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Chicago Women’s Expo – Mentee Shelley Carrillo!

DONATE https://growthzonesitesprod.azureedge.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/1735/2023/10/Chicago-Womens-Expo-Beards-Bellas.mp4 After submitting Shelley and her business for the Ultimate Women’s Expo, which has been running strong for now 30 years in Illinois and other cities like Atlanta, Miami, New York to name a few, Shelley has been accepted and now one of the feature vendors! Out of hundreds of vendors, Shelley’s standout and…

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5/3 Bank – Informational Articles

Fifth Third Bank – Commitment to Small Business SBAC partner Fifth Third Bank is committed to the success of small businesses.  Because “small” is a misnomer for driving the economy and creating jobs in local communities as they have a “big” impact. Fifth Third partners with small businesses to provide the lending, lines of credit,…

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Empower Stats!

Empower has been working hard… instagram Over the past 6 months, our mentoring program has blossomed; we’ve been able to help so many Small Businesses! Since January 2023, we’ve seen a 31% increase in our outreach to those in need of help. As proud of we are as our growth, we’re even more proud of…

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Stats for Small Businesses

IL Small Businesses, Did you Know…. instagram Did you know that according to the Illinois Small Business Association, a bit over 98% of the businesses within Illinois are Small Businesses? That means statistically, you can probably name most of the larger IL businesses off the top of your head! So, if you approach a store…

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Governor Pritzker Signs HB 2296 into Law

Governor Pritzker Signs HB 2296 into Law! Small businesses have been crushed by the escalating costs of health insurance.  The SBAC championed legislation focused on reducing premiums for small businesses and increasing transparency so policymakers and the public can better understand what drives the costs of health insurance.  Governor Pritzker signed this legislation into law. …

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Welcome Our New BOD Member!

Welcome Sherry Jursa! We’re happy to welcome Sherry Jursa from PNC’s Business Banking wing to the Empower Board. Sherry holds an MBA from Northern Illinois University and a BA from North Central College in Political Science. With over 15 years’ experience in banking, Sherry is a proven professional who strives to provide excellence while meeting…

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Legislation to Support Local Chambers Passes

Legislation to Support Local Chambers Passes Many chambers of commerce were devastated by the pandemic.  However, this did not stop them from providing crucial support to local businesses. The SBAC is thrilled to report that Illinois politicians have provided 5 million dollars to support the recovery of chambers of commerce in Illinois.  The SBAC has…

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SBAC Empower’s 2023 Impact Report

Our Impact (Report) SBAC Empower had an incredible year in 2022.  We are proud to report our impact in the SBAC Empower 2023 Impact Report. This report is a detailed collection of data from 2019 – 2022 carefully articulated to show the impact we are making in communities throughout Chicagoland.  Check out some snippets below…

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Coalition Engagement Sparks New Chicago Zoning Guide

Coalition Engagement Sparks New Chicago Zoning Guide Navigating the zoning rules in Chicago just became easier.   The newly released Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) Chicago Business Zoning Guide will help small businesses and property owners more easily navigate the zoning process in Chicago.  This was crucial as chambers of commerce…

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SBAC Mentoring Program

We are thrilled that one of our very own Mentees is the recipient of such an award! We are so proud of you Walter Mendenhall IV and wish you continued success!! #sbacempower #smallbuisness #sbacempowermentoring #MaleMogul And check out Walter’s Linked In Post: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6999124047074648064 Learn more about the SBAC Empower Mentoring Program by clicking here. Insights…

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