Chicago – ChemFree Corporation, a member of the Intelligent Systems Shared Resource Technology Center, has been named recipient of the 1999 Client of the Year Award in the Manufacturing category, presented by the National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) at the 13^th International Conference on Business Incubation in Chicago.

An independent panel composed of five NBIA members rated the nominees for Client of the Year in several categories. Relevant firm accomplishment measures included factors such as overcoming significant obstacles, rapid growth, achievement of goals, investments obtained, awards or grants, important clients and development of a unique technology, product or service.

ChemFree Corporation's principal product, the SmartWasher^®, recently won the Gold Award for 1998 Product of the Year from Plant Engineering.

Business incubators such as Intelligent Systems Shared Resource Technology Center are an economic development tool designed to accelerate the successful development of entrepreneurial companies by providing mentoring, support services and professional advice. Graduates and current clients of North American incubators have created nearly 19,000 companies still in business and more than 245,000 jobs