Registration Open for the Southern Illinois 2026 Business Plan Competition
Date: September 18, 2026
2025 Southern Illinois Business Plan Competition participant Lynne Weeks pitching her “Reading by the Weeks,” dyslexia tutoring plan during regional competition in Marion. (Photo provided)
Southern Illinois entrepreneurs with innovative ideas or growth plans are invited to enter the Southern Illinois 2026 Business Plan Competition powered by Regions for a chance to win over $20,000 in cash and in-kind services.
Funded by a generous gift from Regions Bank, this competition is designed to support new and existing businesses by providing essential funding and resources. Organizers include Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development, the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at SIU, and the SIU Foundation. Anyone with a new business concept or existing for-profit small business in Southern Illinois is encouraged to participate.
This competition provides an opportunity to transform visions into reality, and past competitions have awarded significant funding to local businesses.
Apply Now!
Applications are open until 11:59 p.m. Friday, September 25. Sign up online now. All participants must attend three workshops in September and October, which will cover essential topics including business plans, financials, and pitching strategies. Workshops will be held in Benton, Carbondale, Harrisburg, Metropolis, and Red Bud.
For more details, please consult the Business Plan Competition webpage.
The first round of the competition is scheduled for November 10-12, where a panel of judges will evaluate entries based on content, viability, and pitch presentation. Two winners from each local competition location will advance to the regional competition on November 19 at SIU’s Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, 1740 Innovation Drive, Carbondale. Award winners will be announced at the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Showcase at 4:30 p.m. on December 3 at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center.
Diverse Entries Welcomed
The competition showcases a wide range of innovative business concepts. Contestants must be from one or more of the following Illinois counties: Alexander, Clay, Crawford, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Marion, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Richland, Saline, Union, Wabash, Wayne, White, and Williamson.
There are some restrictions: the contest is not open to businesses involving cannabis, gambling, or lobbying activities. Additionally, governmental entities, non-profits, public/private schools, and higher education institutions are not eligible to participate.
Notable winners from previous competitions include Florine Swim, Rent-A-Kid, and WP Meat Company, along with local winners such as Chilly Jilly, Ellioh Designs, and Reading by the Weeks.
In addition to Regions Bank, competition sponsors include the Illinois SBDC at SIU, Office of Innovation and Economic Development, SIU Foundation, and several other community and financial partners.
For more information about the competition, contact the Illinois Small Business Development Center at SIU at 618-536-2424 or email sbdc@siu.edu.
