The Omsk region has started accepting applications for the first regional award "Entrepreneur of the City"

The winners will receive certificates for the development of a brandbook or for conducting an advertising campaign, mentoring from well-known and experienced businessmen from Omsk. The results of the first regional award for small and medium-sized businesses will be announced in 2021.

More than half a million rubles is the prize fund of the first regional award "Entrepreneur of the City", which was decided to establish and hold for small and medium–sized businesses, as well as the self-employed Entrepreneurship Support Fund of the Omsk region, the Omsk branch of Sberbank and the Omsk regional branch of the public organization "SUPPORT of RUSSIA". The award is supported by the Government of the Omsk region as part of the national project "Small and medium-sized entrepreneurship and support for entrepreneurial initiative." 

"Encouraging entrepreneurs in the current conditions is especially important and remains an absolute priority for the regional Government and the Governor personally. The national project provided for such an opportunity thanks to the approach of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia in the framework of the implementation of the tasks set by the President of the country. Holding the award is a good end to this year and the beginning of the upcoming one. I invite businesses to participate," said Anna Negoduiko, Minister of Economy of the Omsk Region.

Applications are accepted from business owners and the self-employed until January 27, 2021 on the Entrepreneurship City website.The final of the award is scheduled for February 11. The winners will be determined in five categories: the first category is for businesses that develop in the social sphere or the field of ecology, the second – for entrepreneurs running their business online, the third – for entrepreneurs from creative industries: design, photography, advertising, etc. The fourth nomination will determine the startup of the year (aimed at entrepreneurs who started their business in the fourth quarter of 2019 or during 2020). The fifth nomination is intended for a "digital" business engaged in software development or the implementation of innovative projects in various fields. It should be noted that the organizers of the award may establish special nominations for participants developing their businesses in other industries. 

According to the organizers, the main prize of the award is a meeting of the winners in each of the nominations with a business guru at the federal level, whose name is still kept secret. 

Each nominee will participate in the popular vote on the award's website. The winner of this vote will receive a special prize. 

"The award is addressed to Omsk entrepreneurs who build successful businesses in our region and thereby contribute to its development. These people perceive entrepreneurship as a way of life, not just a source of income. We hope that Entrepreneur of the City will become a good tradition and a symbol of modern and effective business for local entrepreneurs," said Sergey Konovalov, Manager of the Omsk branch of Sberbank.

The award was decided to celebrate and encourage representatives of small and medium-sized businesses, as well as the self-employed, who have achieved success. 

"It was no accident that we announced the acceptance of applications for participation in the award in mid-December: on the eve of the New Year, we want to motivate and encourage Omsk business. Therefore, my partners and I have teamed up and decided to establish several special prizes. For example, the winners of the award will receive a certificate for the development of a brandbook or a certificate for an advertising campaign. We are grateful to the Government of the Omsk Region and our partners for supporting this important business project," said Alexander Osminin, Manager of the Omsk Region Entrepreneurship Support Fund.

The winners will receive certificates for conducting an advertising campaign from Radio Siberia, as well as mentoring from five owners of the largest Omsk companies. 

"In the Omsk region, many successful entrepreneurs actively help aspiring businessmen by investing their time and experience. This is facilitated by their sincere desire to develop our region. The award's supervisory and expert council includes mentors who will not only ensure an honest selection of contestants, but also provide support to the winners and help make their business more successful," said Alexander Deryabin, Chairman of the Omsk regional branch of the public organization OPORA ROSSII.

The selection of participants' applications will be conducted by an expert council, which includes the ambassadors of the My Business Center, entrepreneurs, heads of business support infrastructure organizations, and members of OPORa RUSSIA. The award's supervisory board, which will determine the winners, includes mentors from well–known and experienced Omsk businessmen. Among them are Alexander Antropenko, Managing Director of Osnovy Holding, Igor Znamenskikh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Sladonezh Group of Companies, Alexander Trippel, CEO of Planeta Center, Gennady Fridman, founder of the F-Consulting group, Siberian Cellular Communications, and the Euromed clinic chain, and Gennady Fridman, co-founder of Siberian Proviant." Yuri Chashchin, Viktor Shkurenko, General Director of the Shkurenko Trading House.