February 5, 2010 (Kitchener -Waterloo ON) - IGLOO Inc. (www.igloosoftware.com), a leading social software company that builds online communities for businesses today announced that one of the online communities it powers, the Manufacturing Innovation Network (MIN), won the website award in the "Marketing Using Technology" category from the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) last night.

The MIN is a business social network that powers collaboration and knowledge sharing between Waterloo-region businesses and won the award in a ceremony honouring economic development initiatives, communities and tourism opportunities in Ontario.

Expert judges from the Economic Developers Council of Ontario reviewed specific categories, and entries for the 25 different awards covered everything from promotional brochures to infrastructure development projects.   

Representatives from the Waterloo MIN, IGLOO Software and Canada's Technology Triangle Inc (www.techtriangle.com) were on hand to accept the award during the Annual Conference of the Economic Developers Council of Ontario. 

"This award is great recognition that the MIN has made a positive economic impact in the region," stated Dan Latendre, CEO of IGLOO. "I look forward to seeing this type of online innovation cluster being replicated in other regions in Ontario, and across Canada."

MIN is a convenient, 'one-stop-shop' for everything about manufacturing in the Waterloo Region, and the creation of a centralized online directory of regional manufacturers was a key component. This directory enables manufacturers to update their company profile with detailed information, branding and contact details in real-time, while easily interacting with other organizations.

One of the most highly used areas of the MIN is the free online Job Board. Over the past year it has received over 200,000 views and more than 8,000 job applications. Even during the worst of the recent downturn, there were 120+ local manufacturing jobs available on the site every day.  Companies appreciate being able to browse, search and post job opportunities at no charge and they know they will be attracting local candidates, interested in manufacturing. Coming soon is a service provider directory and interactive classified ad system where manufacturers can buy and sell product and services.

About MIN
The Waterloo Region Manufacturing Innovation Network (MIN) is an innovative online community that connects more than 1,000 manufacturers in the Waterloo Region. The goal of the community is to create a more responsive and globally competitive manufacturing community through improved networking, collaboration and knowledge sharing. The MIN community offers its members free access to three key online services:

• Marketplace - Job Board, Career Center, Company and Service Provider Directories, Classified Ads, Advertising, Sponsorship Program, Event Calendar
• Professional Network - Personal Profiles, Member Directory, Peer-to-Peer Messaging, Contacts
• Knowledge Exchange - Resource Centre, Expert Blogger Program, Peer Groups, Best Practices, Whitepapers, News, Educational Videos

The MIN was founded by a group of organizations that includes The Region of Waterloo, the Cities of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge, the Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC) Conestoga College, the University of Waterloo, the Greater Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge Chambers of Commerce, Communitech and Canada's Technology Triangle (CTT). 

About IGLOO
IGLOO is a business social software company that builds online communities for business through a powerful suite of content management, collaboration and knowledge sharing tools, within one secure social networking platform. Organizations use IGLOO communities internally to improve employee productivity (Workplace Communities) or externally to foster relationships with members, customers, partners and suppliers (Marketplace Communities). IGLOO has developed partnerships and affiliations with some of the industry's most prominent organizations including EMC (Excellence in Manufacturing), Pondstone, Arrow Electronics, Artez Interactive, Formark, Helix, Impetus Healthcare,Vinezoom. For more information visit: www.igloosoftware.com or call 1-877-664-4566.

About EDCO
EDCO is an independent, non-profit, incorporated association of persons engaged in economic development. EDCO is the country's largest provincial economic development association that offers this program as well as professional development opportunities throughout the year.  Membership is close to 600 that come from the private and public sector.