Womens Business Development Center

Delivered through the Illinois Small Business Development Center at WBDC, Plan for Profit offers a comprehensive training program for startup or emerging entrepreneurs learning to work on their businesses. Participants outline a business concept, determine market needs, identify target markets, develop marketing strategies, and learn the language of business.

The Expanding Minority Business Access (EMBA) program is delivered in partnership with the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council and four community-based Business Service Organizations operating in the South and West sides of Chicago. EMBA promotes awareness and educates minority business owners on about profitable private and public sector contracting and procurement opportunities and assists those that are interested in navigating the landscape These opportunities offer a pathway to long-term small business recovery and ongoing sustainability.

The award-winning ScaleUp program assists established businesses experiencing no or slow growth patterns and sustainability issues. The ScaleUp team equips entrepreneurs with the business acumen, resources, and tools necessary to maintain a profitable business with comprehensive business development services. As entrepreneurs scale their businesses, they retain and create jobs, fuel economic growth, and build strong communities.

Each week, the class works on a different side of the business. Participants learn about marketing, branding, and mission, creating a 30-Second Pitch. On the financial side, they learn about financial statements, break-even pricing, and key performance indicators. Finally, participants learn about certification and select the right certification and contract opportunities. Business owners receive group advising, one-on-one mentoring, plus business sustainability and growth planning assistance.

Presented by the Illinois Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) at the WBDC, GovCon helps established small business owners navigate and access federal government contracting opportunities. Designed for business owners new to government procurement, participants create a business capability statement, prepare a mock proposal, and learn to network with government agencies. The GovCon program helps small business owners scale their businesses and diversify their revenues. Each session covers basic sequential steps of doing business with government entities, including diverse certification and vendor registration with the City of Chicago, Cook County, and the State of Illinois. Participants also learn about Federal government vendor registration with SAM.gov.

Top Shelf helps established businesses access procurement opportunities in the mass retail market, assisting diverse business owners in scaling their products for national Big Box retailers. The cohort session features educational training from subject matter experts and a hands-on learning experience. Increase contract wins in the retail industry, gain insights from industry professionals, learn from peers. In addition, participants will develop a proposal toolkit, including Capabilities Statement, Proposal Content, pitch presentation skills training, introductory emails, and a business matchmaking follow-up.

The ScaleHigher cohort is a vital innovation resource for business owners looking to mitigate risk, increase competitive advantage, drive growth, and ensure sustainability. Each week, participants learn about innovative tools and methodologies uniquely adapted to transform their business to scale higher, faster, and more profitably. In addition, participants learn how to build innovation into their business model.

Participants learn about the benefits of cultivating a growth mindset which is the foundation of entrepreneurial success. ScaleHigher offers a structured approach for identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing market opportunities. When small business owners can systematically test business ideas, they can reduce risk and increase their chances of success. This cohort also includes a technology evaluation to inform decision-making. Peer-to-peer cohort learning connects a community of business owners and creates a supportive space to grow.

The RiseUp cohort was explicitly designed for startup childcare businesses. Weekly topics range from SWOT analysis to operational efficiencies and recovery methods. In addition to this group learning, clients attend one-on-one advising sessions to discuss their business plans and financials. Strategic one-on-one advising helps owners manage their businesses and become more efficient, so repeat advising sessions are vital.

CityCon is offered by the Illinois Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) at WBDC. It is designed for businesses certified by the City of Chicago as a Women Business Enterprise or Minority Business Enterprise interested in pursuing contract opportunities. The program provides proposal writing technical assistance to City of Chicago Prime and Sub-contractors responding to a Bid or No-Bid Request. Participants gain valuable feedback on their proposals and the submission process. The WBDC team also shares details on compliance and contracts. Throughout the cohort, participants also receive one-on-one advising, so they discuss their specific goals and challenges.

Capital is critical for businesses of all sizes in all industries. The WBDC Access to Capital team can help you find the right capital at the right time from the right source. The Team delivers strategic financial guidance, capital preparation services, and direct lending options.

Direct Lending Program | Capital can be challenging if your business is too new (less than two years) or your loan amount is too small (less than $50,000). The WBDC provides loans to small business owners who cannot get a loan from a bank. Loans are available to small businesses in Northeast Illinois with less than $1,000,000 in annual revenue.

Kiva Lending | Kiva is the first rung on the capital ladder. Social lending through Kiva is a great option if you have a very small business, with 0% interest and 0% fees for loans ranging from $1,000 to $15,000. Kiva is an excellent way to grow your business while creating opportunities for other owners.