Hispanic Heritage Month, Business Advising through The Source, Upcoming Events & BRITE Program

This month we feature the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC) as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) and the important contributions Latine businesses add to the regional economy.

This edition also highlights upcoming September events designed for small businesses to sharpen and hone new skills. Plus, scroll down to learn more about Cook County’s BRITE program which assists suburban Cook businesses in reducing their environmental footprint.

Business Support Organization Spotlight

Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

The Cook County Small Business Source is proud to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and our BSO partners that have served more than 1,000 Hispanic-owned businesses (comprising 17% of all business advising clients) since 2021. Based in Chicago, the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC) makes up one of the largest networks of Latine business owners in Illinois and the Midwest.

Recently, we asked Michael Mendez, who serves as one of the IHCC’s dedicated business advisors, how IHCC helps to support and strengthen small Latine-owned businesses in Cook County. In 2022, through The Source, IHCC conducted 400 business advising sessions with businesses from 80 different Cook County municipalities and hosted ten webinars. Michael attributes IHCC’s success to the fact that, “IHCC serves as a trusted advisor for businesses in the Latine-owned business community, allowing us to provide crucial and often strategic advice about available opportunities.”

IHCC is one of 11 Business Support Organizations (BSOs) within The Source’s collaborative network dedicated to supporting small businesses in any stage of development, providing guidance through no-cost business advising.

Learn More About Business Advising

Upcoming Events

Funding Opportunity

Reduce your environmental footprint through BRITE

Cook County has launched the Businesses Reducing Impact on the Environment (BRITE) program, which helps businesses impacted by the pandemic reduce their environmental footprint, save money and create a healthier environment for their employees, customers and community through free on-site assessments and grant opportunities to reduce pollution.

This opportunity is available to dry cleaners, auto body and repair shops, metal finishers as well as food and beverage manufacturers in suburban Cook County. The County will award $6 million in grant funding to help small businesses implement recommendations identified during the assessment. For more information about the BRITE program, click here or email BRITE@cookcountyil.gov.

The 2023 Source Grant Update

The application period for The 2023 Source Grant program officially closed on August 25. Applicants will be notified of their grant status in November 2023.

To review the grant eligibility requirements, grant FAQS, and to check for updates regarding award notification, please visit The 2023 Source Grant webpage.

Website: cookcountysmallbiz.org

Email: info@cookcountysmallbiz.org