Local technology entrepreneurs now have a second major resource of late, when Minnesota’s first tech-oriented accelerator program begins accepting first round applications tomorrow.

Six months in the making, Project Skyway will choose up to 10 early-stage tech companies in SaaS & mobile to participate in a three-month long, mentor-driven startup acceleration based out of Minneapolis.

“Our emphasis is on building tech companies with long-term, sustainable value, ethical practices, mentorship, and strong networks,” Project Skyway founder Cem Erdem reiterates.

The program offers $6k in seed funding per founder (1-5), mentorship, co-working space (TBA), dedicated outsourced software development and connections-a-plenty.   In exchange for participating in the program, companies give 6 – 9% of founders stock.

“Almost any other accelerator program will bounce you if you don’t have a tech co-founder as part of your team,” says co founder Casey Allen, touching on a unique aspect. “Not Project Skyway. We are looking for applicants with the ability to execute over the ability to code the viable and fund-able prototype themselves.”  The accelerator will also accept sole founders.

The deadline to apply is midnight, May 1, 2011 — after which the top 25 applicants will then be invited to participate in the 2nd round weekend boot-camp being held June 10-12, 2011.  In late June, invitations will be sent out to finalists ready to start building August 1 through ‘demo day’ in October.

For more background and details, tune in to our Get to Know podcast with Cem Erdem and Casey Allen.