HITEC Announces funding for Two Regional Companies
Posted on October 10th, 2004

Bradley University’s Heartland Illinois Technology Enterprise Center (HITEC) recently awarded a total of $40,000 to two regional companies. Mercury Sports Group, Inc. received a $20,000 loan for the development of a company branding and marketing strategy. Mercury Sports has a unique sports timing technology that has the potential of opening up significant new markets for the use of automated timing systems for running, cycling and biathlon events.

Linx Systems, Inc. received two separate cash awards for $10,000 each. The first loan was to secure legal assistance in protecting its intellectual property and in restructuring the company. The other was for the development, prototyping and testing of a new data acquisition system. Linx Systems, Inc. provides comprehensive agricultural harvest data management systems and services. Through the use of global positioning systems (GPS), bar coding, radio frequency identification (RFID) and wireless communications, Linx helps growers and processors reduce costs, provide security through traceability and empower the business of agriculture as never before possible.

The mission of HITEC is to stimulate development of advanced technology by transforming innovation into enterprises. Using funds provided through the State of Illinois’ Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), HITEC provides loans up to $20,000 to client companies. These funds are used to conduct projects that will help meet key business development needs, such as venture formation, market research, or technology assessments. In October of 2003, HITEC announced the first award to Direct Logic Solutions, Inc. of Peoria. Illinois Technology Enterprise Centers (ITEC) serve technology-based entrepreneurs, innovators, and small businesses by assisting them with critical business startup and marketing needs. The regional centers help entrepreneurs locate pre-seed and early stage financing; help innovators in high growth and high technology sectors further their technical and/or managerial skills, and assist with new product development and marketing to nurture development in Illinois. For more information, visit www.heartlanditec.org.