CHICAGO, IL – The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) and World Business Chicago honored seven
Chicago-area companies today at a breakfast at the University Club for their accomplishments and inclusion on the
2011 Inner City 100 list. The breakfast was attended by more than 100 companies and was followed by panel
discussions about best practices for companies seeking access to capital, customers and procurement contracts.

The Inner City 100, an annual list compiled by ICIC and Fortune Magazine, identifies the fastest-growing inner city
companies in the U.S. and recognizes them and their CEO’s as role models for entrepreneurship, innovative business
practices and job creation in America’s urban communities.

The seven Chicago area companies and their ranking among the 100 businesses on the list are:

• Hillard Heintze - #6 on the list
• Nitel - #7
• Orbit Media Studios - #34
• E. C. Ortiz & Co.- #80
• rEvolution - #86
• The LaSalle Network- #91
• Bearse Manufacturing- #99

The Chicago Department of Housing and Economic Development (HED) Managing Deputy Commissioner Michael
Jasso was also on hand to congratulate this year’s winners. HED focuses on promoting economic development and
offers tools specifically designed to foster small business success.

"The ICIC’s mission aligns closely with ours, as approximately 90% of the businesses in Chicago are small
businesses,” said HED Commissioner Andrew J. Mooney. “We are proud that Chicago has seven 2011 award
winners, the most from any one city, and more than any city has ever been awarded in the Inner City 100’s 13 year
history. This shows that Chicago is a city where small businesses can and do thrive - especially in our
neighborhoods, where businesses and jobs are key ingredients for strong communities."

“We are delighted to celebrate the seven Chicago winners; they are helping to revitalize Chicago’s inner city
neighborhoods and create jobs for inner city residents,” said Mary Kay Leonard, ICIC president and CEO. “These
extraordinary companies demonstrate the market possibilities that exist within Chicago’s inner cities and the growth
that is at the heart of all urban entrepreneurial successes

In addition to recognizing the seven winners for Chicago, ICIC also recognized World Business Chicago as the Inner
City 100 Nominator of the Year for successfully identifying fast-growing companies that appeared on this year’s list.

“We are pleased to join ICIC in congratulating these seven local companies. They are leading the way in showing how
inner city neighborhoods can be synonymous with success.” stated Rita Athas, president of World Business Chicago.
“Not only have these companies provided enormous stimulus to some of the neighborhoods hardest hit by the
recession, they have done it while becoming even more successful. We look forward to their continued positive impact
on our city in the years to come.”

To qualify for the Inner City 100 list, companies were required to have at least 51 percent of their operations located in
an economically distressed urban area; have at least 10 full-time employees; and a five-year operating sales history
that includes at least $200,000 in revenues in the first year of consideration, an increase in year five sales over year
four sales, and fifth-year sales of at least $1 million. For the 2011 list, ICIC looked at total revenue growth from 2005
to 2009 and the specific rankings were based on these growth rates. An economically distressed urban area is
defined by ICIC as having a 50 percent higher unemployment level, 50 percent higher poverty level, and 50 percent
lower median income than the metropolitan statistical area.

The Inner City 100 list provides unmatched original data on the fastest growing inner-city businesses in the U.S. In the
last 13 years, 661 different companies have earned positions on the Inner City 100, collectively generating more than
$2.2 billion in annual revenues and creating nearly 70,000 new jobs.

For the 2011 Inner City 100 list, a record number of 2,000 nominations were received. Winners represent a wide span
of geography, operating in 51 cities and 32 states. The 2011 Inner City 100 winners grew at a compound annual
growth rate of 39 percent and an average standard growth rate of 379 percent between 2004 and 2009.
ICIC has been studying the economic condition of the largest 100 American cities for more than a decade and is
working to revitalize inner cities across the country. The Inner City 100 is proof of the concept that doing business in
an inner city area holds a distinct competitive advantage.

To learn more about ICIC’s Inner City 100 and Inner City Capital Connections programs, visit:
http://www.icic.org/resources-for-inner-city-ceos

Initiative for a Competitive Inner City
The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City is a nonprofit research and strategy organization based in Boston, MA, and
the leading authority on U.S. inner city economies and business development. Founded in 1994 by Harvard Business
School Professor Michael Porter, ICIC supports public and private sector decision makers with analysis and programs
that lead to urban investment, jobs and growth.

World Business Chicago
World Business Chicago (WBC) is a not-for-profit economic development corporation for the city, coordinating
business retention, attraction and expansion efforts in order to spur and accelerate economic growth. WBC raises
Chicago’s profile as a premier business destination, serves as a resource for companies, and brings together key
parties in the public and private sectors to foster growth; building the best city in the world in which to live, work, and
play.