|
The Illinois Small Business Development Center International Trade Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, and the Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago (ICNC). Reasonable accomodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Please contact the center at (312)433-2373.
|
|
|
|
ICNC's Annual Meeting
Wednesday, March 25th
|
 |
|
|
Photo by Helios Visions. |
Join us at the Goose Island Barrel House for our Annual Meeting where we'll share our 2019 successes, our priorities for 2020, and you'll hear from special guest Deputy Mayor for Neighborhood & Economic Development Samir Mayekar! You will enjoy lunch, networking with local business owners and community members, hear about ICNC's neighborhood planning initiatives and advocacy priorities, and learn how you can get involved with making a difference.
For current Make City tenants and ICNC members, there is a code for FREE registration. Please contact
Hannah Jones for more information.
Wednesday, March 25th
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
$15 for non-members, FREE for members
|
Leveling the Playing Field in Entrepreneurship
ICNC highlighted by Chicago Ideas
|
"When it comes to entrepreneurship in general, it's not just access to capital that's a problem, it is the framing of an entrepreneurial mindset and making entrepreneurship accessible to people." Recently, Chicago Ideas included ICNC in a video to highlight the work that we do to support small businesses and community members on Chicago's West Side. Watch the video below to learn more.
|
|
| Access Granted: Leveling the Playing Field in Entrepreneurship |
|
|
Entrepreneurship Education at ICNC
|
Join the Illinois SBDC at ICNC for upcoming workshops!
|
Starting Your Business in IL + GATA Pre-Award Preparation Sessions
March 12th & 24th
Understand the basic elements of starting a business in Illinois. Session will also touch on elements of entrepreneurship. Additionally, The Grant Accountability and Transparency Act Pre-Award information will help you prepare to quickly act on Notice of Funding Opportunities.
|
What is the Chinese Market for U.S. Products
+ How to Start Selling into China
March 19th
Businesses will gain a better understanding of the Chinese market and have solid knowledge of how to position their company and products to succeed.
Register here!
|
Increase Your Bottom Line: How to Identify and Solve the Key Levers and Inefficiencies on Your Production Line
March 26th
Are you struggling with excess inventory, lost profit, long hours or overworked employees due to late orders? Are there bottlenecks holding you up at different stages in your production cycle?
As a small business owner, it all comes down to three things: managing time, money and people. One thing can throw it all off. It's crucial to be proactive instead of reactive.
Register here!
|
|
Mark Your Calendar: March 18th is #SBDCDay!
|
The
Illinois SBDC at ICNC is proud to
celebrate 40 years of SBDCs! SBDC Day will unite nearly 1,000 SBDC centers across the country and the hundreds of thousands of clients they serve by sharing, in real time, the success stories and notable impacts SBDCs collectively have on the small business community at large. Help us showcase the impact of the Illinois SBDC by being part of the 4th annual #SBDCDay campaign.
Learn more!
Celebrate SBDC Day with ICNC on March 18th to explore the concept of incubation, enjoy some light snacks, and learn more about ICNC's holistic services!
Register here!
|
|
Impact Culinary Training Program
Cohort 3 Application Open Now
|
The third cohort of the Impact Culinary Training Program will begin in Spring 2020! The program aims to provide the young adults with 8 weeks of culinary training in the kitchen, followed by 4 weeks of experience working in a restaurant during an internship. Applicants are accepted on a rolling basis and the application is open until March 27th.
Learn more about the program and apply now
here
.
|
|
Dream Commercial Kitchen Pitch Contest
|
The Hatchery Chicago is excited to host our first-ever Dream Commercial Kitchen Pitch Contest.
This is an exciting opportunity for an early-stage baking, consumer packaged goods, confectionery, or pastry sta
rtup to p
itch to win 3 months of free rent in one of The Hatchery's private commercial kitchen and a startup kit including: O
ne year of free
Bloom Membership
at
The Hatchery Chicago, c
ulinary ideation sessions with Chef Mindy Segal, i
ngredient kit from Ingredion and f
our hours of formulation and product development support with Chef Nelson, and more!
Applications are now open and will be accepted until March 31st.
Learn more.
|
|
The HR Corner
|
- Are you ready to hire staff but lack the time to screen resumes? Our workforce development department can assist you!
Learn more.
- Here are some recommendations about how businesses can plan, prepare, and respond to the Coronavirus infection:
To discuss your HR needs, please contact Nancy or Priscilla in our Workforce Development Department!
|
|
Grow Your Business @ Make City!
|
|
Enjoy a thriving entrepreneurial community and immediate access to ICNC's advising, export, and advocacy services at ICNC's Make City incubator alongside 100 other small businesses.
Click
here to view the available spaces.
|
|
| Upcoming Food Workshops |
|
The Hatchery, a collaboration between
ICNC and
Accion Chicago to bring education, capital, and support to the Chicagoland food entrepreneur community, has upcoming food workshops.
|
*Certain workshops are free for members of the West Side communities (Austin, Garfield Park, North Lawndale, and West Humboldt).
|
|
|
