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From comeback stories to new opportunities, May is the month for your small business to thrive!

Discover how Reyna Gonzalez rebuilt Dulceria La Fiesta Inc. from the ashes to a booming success with help from The Source’s network of business advisors. Plus, explore upcoming events and resources designed to help your small business grow - from Berwyn Shops' fresh season to an empowering new legal aid program.

This May, seize every chance to strengthen your business!

Rebuilding after tragedy: How a party shop is thriving thanks to the Rogers Park Business Alliance

Shortly after purchasing her party shop, Dulceria La Fiesta Inc., in the Rogers Park neighborhood on the North Side of Chicago, Reyna Gonzalez faced a crisis.

A fire destroyed her small business. 

Five years later, her business is stronger than ever thanks to the Rogers Park Business Alliance (RPBA), a Source Business Support Organization. Reyna’s custom-made piñatas are a big hit with major brands and at local events like the annual Rogers Park Taco Crawl.

“I really like that the Cook County Source and the RPBA have these programs where if you need help on a specific question, you have a one-on-one, private moment,” Reyna said. “They’ll sit you down and guide you step by step."

May Webinar Wednesday:

¿Hablas español? Únase al Webinar Wednesday de mayo: 

Crédito y Préstamos para Negocios: Lo que Debes Saber y Cómo Prepararte para Solicitar un Préstamo Comercial

This May, The Source’s Webinar Wednesday will be conducted entirely in Spanish. Missed one of our previous webinars in English? Visit our YouTube channel to get caught up! 

¡Únase a The Source y a uno de nuestros socios destacados el último miércoles de cada mes para nuestra serie de seminarios web de los miércoles, que le brindarán los recursos y la información que necesita para que su pequeña empresa prospere!

Obtener financiamiento para tu negocio no tiene por qué ser complicado. En este webinar, desmitificamos el proceso de los préstamos comerciales y te guiaremos paso a paso sobre cómo prepararse financieramente para solicitar un préstamo con éxito para tu pequeño negocio. Aprenderás cuáles son los requisitos clave que buscan los prestamistas, cómo mejorar la salud financiera de tu negocio y qué opciones de financiamiento están disponibles para pequeñas empresas. ¡Acompáñanos y toma el control de tu futuro financiero!

28 de mayo de 2025

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Berwyn Shops opens for a fourth season!

Berwyn Shops, a unique business incubator hosted by the Berwyn Development Corporation, a Source Business Support Organization, celebrated the start of its fourth season on Friday, May 2, 2025. 

Participating entrepreneurs drawn from all over Cook County curate cottage-like sheds into dynamic micro-storefronts in this Berwyn shopping destination. Business owners also receive tailored advising throughout their tenancy, helping to prepare them to run a successful storefront after the program ends.

The Source is proud to be a sustaining sponsor and partner of Berwyn Shops. We invite you to stop by to support your fellow small business owners this season! With 12 businesses participating, there is something for everyone to enjoy. 

The shops are hosted at 6931 Roosevelt Road in Berwyn, IL, and are open Friday-Sunday through December 2025. For more information, call 708-788-8100 or email homegrown@berwyn.net.

Upcoming events

Funding opportunities

Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF)

Offered by the City of Chicago to small businesses and property owners of industrial and commercial properties, SBIF grants provide funding for permanent building improvements and repairs. Program participants can receive grants to cover up to 90% of the cost of pre-approved remodeling costs, with a maximum grant of $150,000 for commercial properties and $250,000 for industrial properties. The grant, administered by SomerCor on the City’s behalf, does not have to be repaid. SBIF applications are accepted during monthly rollout periods for individual TIF districts.

Calling all young entrepreneurs!

The third annual Young Entrepreneurs Competition, presented by Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council, a Source Business Support Organization partner, and the Chicago Business Opportunity Forums, is now accepting applications!

This is an exciting opportunity for entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 - 35 who are interested in scaling their business through hands-on capacity building.

Three finalists will also receive grants up to $7,500 to help their business flourish. Apply by May 21, 2025, to be considered!

New! Legal Aid for Entrepreneurs (LANE)

LANE provides services to entrepreneurs in the City of Chicago, Cook County, or those employing individuals or serving communities in the Chicago area. With a mission to empower low-income small business owners by providing access to essential legal services, LANE’s goal is to help entrepreneurs establish and grow their businesses with confidence, ensuring they have the legal foundation they need to succeed.

If you’re a small business owner or entrepreneur in need of legal assistance, you can now request help!