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The Economic Development Center @ CMAA
March 2025 Newsletter
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On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, we held our inaugural Small Business Expo! With 45 incredible exhibitors and nearly 200 attendees, we saw firsthand the power of community support and collaboration!
This event was more than an expo—it was an opportunity to network, discover resources, and support small businesses! It was a pleasure to have the Illinois SBDC State Director, Ericka White, give a short speech and help with our raffle! Our team sincerely enjoyed hosting this event for local small business owners and entrepreneurs, we look forward to hosting many more fantastic and impactful events!
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The Economic Development Center at Chinese Mutual Aid Association is excited to announce the following events! | |
March 18: Women's Roundtable | |
March 25: Access to Capital Webinar | |
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Benjilany Striking has been in the Ravenswood neighborhood since 2020, offering kickboxing, Muay Thai, and mixed martial arts (MMA) classes! Founded by Adil Benjilany, a highly regarded coach and MMA fighter with over 15 years of experience, the gym offers expert instruction for all skill levels.
With support from the Economic Development Center at CMAA, Benjilany Striking has seen significant growth, increasing revenue and expanding its team with three new hires! Looking ahead, the gym aims to further establish itself in Chicago's fighting community and continue offering quality services to more individuals!
https://benjilanystriking.com/
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Verizon Small Business
Digital Ready Program
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We are excited to announce an incredible opportunity in partnership with National ACE and Verizon!
The Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program is now available to help small businesses thrive. This free program offers online learning, personalized coaching, and valuable tools for digital marketing, financing, and customer engagement, all designed to empower entrepreneurs to grow and succeed in the digital world.
Topics include:
- Managing Money
- Funding
- Strategy
- Branding
- Online Marketing
- Social Media
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Check out the website for more topics!
💡Sign Up Today and Broaden Your Skillset: https://vz.to/3XBW4ZV
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- PRIORITY
- OE3 Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant Program
- Amount= $10,000-$245,000
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Specifically designed for Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individuals (SEDI) and Very Small Businesses (VSBs) with 25 or fewer full-time employees.
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Watch these Pre-Qualification and SAM.gov videos as it pertains to eligibility
- DEADLINE: 5:00 PM on 4/7/25
- Remy Martin This Is My City Grant Program
- Amount= $20,000, paired with one-on-one mentorship from industry leaders, to amplify your community impact.
- To be eligible a business must be a for-profit business located in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, or New York City.
- Open to all types of creatives that are contributing to their local culture and communities through various types of entrepreneurship.
- DEADLINE: 5:00 PM on 4/11/25
- All Small Businesses
- National ACE x Walmart Road Open Call to Pitch Event
- This initiative supports American manufacturers by providing product-based small businesses with an exclusive opportunity to meet with a Walmart sourcing representative.
- A total of 30 applicants will be selected to pitch their shelf-ready products in Los Angeles on April 3, 2025, and receive expert coaching and insights on scaling their business.
- Products MUST be Made in USA
- DEADLINE: 3/14/25
- Faire Small Business Grant Program 2025
- Amount= $5,000 credit
- This grant program gives select new stores $5,000 to use on Faire to stock their shelves with amazing products.
- The grant is open to independent retail stores who are based in the US, and started their business in the last year, or plan to open this year.
- DEADLINE: 3/31/25
- Honeycomb Credit – Breakthrough Grant
- Amount= $10,000
- Open to all small business owners.
- You can use the funds to expand your product line, move to a new space, purchase new equipment, and more!
- DEADLINE: 4/2/25
- Start Pivot Grow Q1 Microgrant
- Amount= $2,500
- In business for at least two years
- Annual revenue of $50,000 or more
- DEADLINE: 3/31/25
- The Awesome Foundation Grant
- Amount= $1,000
- DEADLINE: 3/31/25
- Freed Fellowship Grant
- Amount= $500
- DEADLINE: 3/31/25
- Secretsos™ Small Business Grant
- Amount=$2,500
- Application Fee= $15
- DEADLINE: 11:59 PM on 3/31/25
- Hustler’s MicroGrant
- Amount= $1,000
- Application Fee= $15
- DEADLINE: 3/31/25
- Small Business Improvement Fund by City of Chicago and SomerCor
- Amount= Determined by the property and business type (MAX- Commercial- $150,000 & Industrial-$250,000)
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March TIF Districts (check your TIF District)
- 47th/Ashland
- 47th/King
- 47th/State
- 119th/I-57
- Division/Homan
- DEADLINE: 5:00 PM on 3/30/25
- Community Development Grant - Medium
- Amount= $300,001 to $5,000,000
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For projects only in Chicago
- DEADLINE: 11:59 PM on 8/15/25
- Community Development Grant - Large
- Amount= $5,000,000+
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For projects only in Chicago
- DEADLINE: Rolling Basis
- Businesses Reducing Impact on the Environment (BRITE) Program
- The grant award amount will vary per recommendation identified in the environmental report
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Specifically for dry-cleaning facility, auto body or auto repair shop, metal finisher, metal fabricator or food and beverage manufacturer located in suburban Cook County.
- DEADLINE: Rolling basis
- People of Color & Women of Color
- The Well Work x Justworks - Just Thrive Program
- Amount= Justworks Credits up to $6,000
- Must have at least two W2 employees
- DEADLINE: Rolling basis
- Wish Local Empowerment Program
- Amount= $500 - $2,000
- For Black-owned brick and mortar businesses with 20 or fewer employees
- DEADLINE: Rolling basis
- IFundWomen Universal Grant
- Amount= $10,000
- DEADLINE: Rolling Basis
- Amber Grant Foundation
- Amount= $10,000-$25,000
- For ALL WOMEN
- Application Fee= $15
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Various options, learn more
- DEADLINE: 3/31/25
- Yippity Doo Big Idea Grant
- Amount= $1,000
- For women-owned businesses and female entrepreneurs
- DEADLINE: Rolling Basis
- HerRise MicroGrant
- Amount= $1,000
- Application Fee= $15
- DEADLINE: 3/31/25
- Annuity Payment Freedom Black & Minority Marketing Grant
- No cash component, free search engine optimization (SEO) evaluations & advice
- DEADLINE: Rolling basis
- Veteran-Owned Businesses
- Hivers and Strivers Capital Grant
- Amount= Capital Ranging from $250,000 to $1,000,000
- DEADLINE: Rolling basis
- Restaurants
- DoorDash Restaurant Relief Disaster Relief Fund
- Amount= $10,000
- DEADLINE: 5PM on 5/30/25
If you need any assistance with grants or have further questions please contact us at illinoissbdc@chinesemutualaid.org
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Please schedule a counseling session or ask questions by emailing illinoisbdc@chinesemutualaid.org. Stay tuned for our next newsletter!
Sincerely,
The Economic Development Center at CMAA
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