Grand Rapids, Michigan - i3 Business Solutions has partnered with The Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce to award one small business with a $25,000 "Extreme Office Technology Makeover". Applicants were required to describe their current business pains and how a technology makeover would help their business. The deadline has past and compelling stories have been told. All that is left is for the winner to be chosen and the decision is difficult.

"Old and slow are two appropriate descriptions of our network."

"We have post-it notes on the computer towers to let us know which firewalls need to be on or off for the specific computers to receive e-mails."

"I am embarrassed to tell people we would rather receive information via mail or fax since our dial up internet connection takes us more than an hour to download even small attachments."

These are only a few of the comments from the deserving applicants.

Winning the Extreme Makeover is a great chance for small businesses to increase productivity with an infusion of up-to-the-minute technologies. The makeover includes an IBM server, four workstations with LCD monitors, one notebook computer, a 3Com five user phone system, five Microsoft Office 2007 licenses, a firewall, anti-virus software, and installation services.

"Michigan’s demanding economic climate has put undue pressure on small and medium businesses today," says i3 president Mike Ritsema. "We’ve had a great response to this offer and are looking forward to showing the winner how new office technology can give immediate productivity results."

The winner will be announced at the Chamber’s 120th Annual Meeting on January 15, 2008.

With more than a century of experience creating opportunities for business success, the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce is the premier business membership organization in West Michigan. Though the area’s largest employers are among its 2,800 member businesses, more than 80% of members are small companies with 50 or fewer employees. By helping members connect, grow and succeed, the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce is a community partner that provides value for members, enhances the business climate in the area, and advocates for public policy that supports economic growth and vitality.

With more than a century of experience creating opportunities for business success, the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce is the premier business membership organization in West Michigan. Though the area’s largest employers are among its 2,800 member businesses, more than 80% of members are small companies with 50 or fewer employees. By helping members connect, grow and succeed, the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce is a community partner that provides value for members, enhances the business climate in the area, and advocates for public policy that supports economic growth and vitality.

For over 15 years, i3 Business Solutions, LLC has been accelerating business results for small and medium size businesses in the state of Michigan. Supported by industry certifications, affiliate relationships and strategic alliances, i3 Business Solutions provides a breadth and depth of solutions to the Michigan business community including:

• application software integration
• web deployment
• managed network services
• infrastructure technology

It is our emphasis on "closing the loop" from design, installation, system implementation to optimized management and integration that makes i3 so successful. We provide the performance, availability and connectivity that enable our clients to align their mission critical needs and strategic objectives to technology solutions. We are able to apply our knowledge and leading edge technology to bring about exciting changes that accelerate business results delivering savings in time, resources and money.