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Hello and happy February! This month, we’re sharing our first Source Spotlight of 2026, details about this month’s Webinar Wednesday, and helpful events and resources to help grow your business. 

In the meantime, stay warm—and turn to The Source for any of your small business needs.

The full package: How The Source is helping one business optimize its estimating, bidding and staffing plans

As the owner of Certified Property Solutions, a small property-preservation business on the South Side of Chicago, Jim Williams wears many hats.

Through business advising from Builders Avenue, a Source Business Support Organization, he has found a team that he can lean on for support. Whether it’s about estimates, bids or insurance, business advising has equipped Jim with essential resources to grow.

In fact, since he started business advising, he has seen the number of projects on which he has successfully bid increase by about 30 percent.

“Builders Avenue has been amazing,” Jim said. “They actually changed the trajectory of my business. They offered all of the services that are hard to find.” 

Read more about Certified Property Solutions’ business advising experience in this month’s Source Spotlight.

February Webinar Wednesday

Meet the Expert: Liz Lombardo Stark of Gibsons Restaurant Group

Our February Webinar Wednesday, held in partnership with the Illinois Restaurant Association, features special guest Elizabeth Lombardo Stark, director of marketing and public relations at Gibsons Restaurant Group.

Join us for a candid, interview-style session in which Liz will pull back the curtain on driving long-term brand success and lessons learned from her dual role as a restaurateur and marketing expert. With a rare dual perspective as both a seasoned restaurateur and marketing leader, Liz will share what has driven Gibsons Restaurant Group’s long-term success, lessons learned from real-life operational challenges, and practical takeaways restaurant owners and operators can apply to their own businesses.

Wednesday February 25, 2026

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Upcoming events

Helpful resources for your small business

APR for All: Small Businesses Applying for Loans Deserve and Need Transparent Pricing

When you shop for a car loan, the total yearly cost of borrowing money, generally known as the annual percentage rate (APR), is right there: clear and easy to compare. But when Illinois small businesses look for financing, they get confusing terms that hide the true cost.

This isn't an accident. It's how non-bank lenders keep entrepreneurs from making informed decisions. Small business owners deserve the same transparency. 

The Cook County Bureau of Economic Development is a proud partner of the Coalition for Small Business Lending Transparency (CSBLT), a group of small business owners, lenders, nonprofits and advocates working to close this loophole. The goal is simple: pass the Small Business Financing Transparency Act (HB744 HA #1) in Illinois to require non-bank lenders to disclose APRs to small business borrowers. Want to get involved? Visit aprforall.com to learn more and join the coalition.

Grab Your Chance at $17K in Marketing Support with Verizon Small Business Digital Ready

Marketing can be overwhelming, but it's essential for growth. The Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program can help simplify it. Get the latest on online marketing, branding, website design, social media and more, with resources taking as little as 20 minutes to complete. The best part? Five small business owners who complete resources through Digital Ready will be selected to win a professionally produced content package, designed to elevate their brand and strengthen their digital presence.

The Amplify Your Brand Promotion is built for businesses ready to take their digital presence to the next level. Winners will receive a content package valued at $17,000*, including a custom video, content plan and digital assets that help you put your Digital Ready learnings into practice and support business growth. Don’t wait: Apply by March 18, 2026. Click here to get started.

Take a Survey on ICE's Commercial Impact on Businesses

United for Chicago is inviting business owners from across all 77 Chicago neighborhoods to take part in a short, anonymous survey. Created in partnership with the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Illinois Restaurant Association and World Business Chicago, this quick survey is designed to capture real, on-the-ground experiences amid increased ICE activity in commercial corridors.

Click here to take the survey in English.



Haz clic aquí para realizar la encuesta en español.