On the eve of the Big Omaha 2012 Opening Party, we want to take a moment to let you in on another party we're planning (and you're invited).

On August 30, we will celebrate the Silicon Prairie community: the startups, entrepreneurs, developers, creative individuals, investors and other key stakeholders who are working to build the region into a center of innovation.

The inaugural Silicon Prairie Awards, to be held at the beautiful Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, will recognize 10 "best of" and two community-oriented categories and feature a keynote-style presentation on the topic of startup communities.

Though we've flirted with the idea of holding an awards ceremony in the past, the time wasn't right until this year. Three years ago, there wasn't a fast-growing payments startup in Des Moines, an ambitious software venture fund in Lincoln, a place startups call home in Omaha or an aggressive entrepreneurial initiative in Kansas City. Today, the region we call the Silicon Prairie is home to hot startups, notable entrepreneurs and emerging investors. And most importantly, it's home to a community that a 19-year-old college student found to have "incredible people who are more than willing to sit down with you and have a cup of coffee and offer their advice."

In August, come have a cocktail (or a soda) with the Silicon Prairie community.

Learn more about the Silicon Prairie Awards

The Silicon Prairie Awards will put the Silicon Prairie community (above, at Thinc Iowa) on center stage.

We're releasing just a few details today – think of this as our "save the date" announcement – but plan on hearing more in the months ahead. Keep this in the back of your mind during Big Omaha: which of the people and companies you've learned about should be recognized at the Silicon Prairie Awards? The call for nominations will come soon.

We've begun working with sponsors and partners. If you're interested in being one of them, please contact Geoff Wood at geoff@siliconprairienews.com.

Update June 18 - The date of the awards has been changed from September 6 to August 30.

Hat tip to the folks behind the Seattle 2.0 Awards who have set an example for an awesome awards event showcasing a community.

Credits: Photo by Anna Jones | Art of Photography and Ikonix Studio