(INDIANAPOLIS) -- There is still time to submit applications for the "Best Places to Work in Indiana" competition. The annual program, sponsored by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and the Indiana State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management, identifies the top companies in the state as determined through employer reports and comprehensive employee surveys.

The application deadline is Friday, December 3.

All participating companies will receive an in-depth evaluation identifying strengths and weaknesses according to their employees. In turn, this report can be used in developing or enhancing employee retention and recruitment programs.

New for 2011 is a change to open the program to more businesses. Previously, companies needed to have 25 Hoosier employees; now that number is 15. Out-of-state parent companies are also eligible to participate if at least 15 full-time employees are in Indiana.

The Best Companies Group, which runs similar programs in other states and large cities, is responsible for the selection process. A record number of 70 companies were honored as a Best Place to Work this year. The Indiana Chamber hopes to increase that number in 2011.

The top Hoosier companies will be honored on Thursday, May 5, 2011, at the Best Places to Work in Indiana awards dinner - presented by Comcast - at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in downtown Indianapolis. Winners will also be recognized via a special supplement to the Indiana Chamber's bimonthly BizVoice® magazine and through Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick.

Program partners with the Chamber and BizVoice® are Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and Best Companies Group.

In addition to Comcast, Best Places to Work in Indiana is sponsored by Energy Systems Group, Mussett Nicholas + Associates, Trilogy Health Services LLC, Horseshoe Casino Hammond, FedEx, Matrix Integration, Smithville and Roche Diagnostics Corporation. Additional sponsorships are available. Contact Jim Wagner at (317) 264-6876 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For more information or to register to participate, go to www.bestplacestoworkIN.com or call the Best Companies Group at (877) 455-2159.

Taking top "Best Places to Work in Indiana" honors for 2010 were Carmel-based Software Engineering Professionals (SEP) and Centier Bank, with more than 40 locations in Lake, Porter, LaPorte and Marshall counties in Northern Indiana.

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The Indiana Chamber of Commerce has been the state's largest broad-based business advocacy organization for 88 years.  The more than 5,000 member companies employ 800,000 Hoosier workers.