Small Business Center on the Road

The City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and the Small Business Center invites small business owners and entrepreneurs to its 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 Small Business Center on the Road business expo with more than 40 exhibitors offering resources on:

• How to finance a small business
• How to start the licensing process
• How to understand and comply with tax laws and requirements
• Business planning and counseling
• Connecting with chambers of commerce
• Business consultants from the Small Business Center will available for license application and renewal assistance

Special Keynote Speaker: Israel Idonije
Israel ldonije is an athlete, humanitarian and entrepreneur. He's known for his excellent football prowess as an 11-year veteran defensive player for the Chicago Bears. The Nigerian-Canadian native is a Chicago small business owner too. Idonije is the founder of the Israel ldonije Foundation launched Blessed Communion in 2010, and in 2007 he began Athlitacomics. Join lsrael and the City of Chicago as he explains play-by-play how he's become a successful entrepreneur.

Note: As a professional business event, photo and autograph requests of Israel Idonije will not be allowed.

Additional Expo Resources:
• Tax Clinic by the Center for Economic Progress
• Two Workshops
• City of Chicago Business Consultants ready to support licensing needs and answer questions
• Photographer to take professional head shots for attendees to use for marketing and social media sites
• Networking Hour

Exhibitors:
City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP)
Western Union (Sponsor)

51St Street Business Association
Better Business Bureau
Center for Economic Progress
Chatham Business Association
Chicago Neighborhood Initiative
Chicago Public Library
Chicago Urban League
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development
City of Chicago Department of Procurement Services
City of Chicago Department of Public Health - Food Protection Program
City Treasurer Office
Far South CDC
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative
Illinois Department of Transportation
Illinois Secretary of State - Business Service Division
Illinois State Treasurer's Office
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
National Latino Education Institute
Quad Communities Development Corporation
SCORE Chicago
SomerCor 504/ City of Chicago Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF)
South Shore Chamber Inc
The Law Project of the Chicago Lawyers' Committee
The Monroe Foundation
U.S. Small Business Administration
VEDC Chicagoland Business Opportunity Fund
Women's Business Development Center
YWCA

Workshops:

"Your Business Toolkit for Growth and Development"
Presented by the Chatham Business Association
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Local chambers will emphasize the importance of certifications (MBE/WBE/DBE), contract opportunities, marketing, networking, technology, and access to capital. Attendees will learn the importance of being a part of a local chamber and choosing the right one to successfully develop your business needs for maximum growth.

"Small Business Start-Up Success"
Presented by Brandon R. Evans and Lawrence Brown, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Learn the ins and outs of starting a small business and gain insight that will help you reach your goals. This workshop will cover starting your entity, marketing it for success and the intangibles of navigating the start-up arena.