STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES
The Abilities Fund
Centerville Office
410 N 18th St
Centerville, IA 52544-1823
Telephone: 641-856-2173
Toll Free: 888-222-8943
Fax: 641-856-3101Iowa City Office
332 South Linn Street, Suite #17
Iowa City, IA 52240
Telephone: 319-338-2521
Toll Free: 866-720-3863
Fax: 319-338-2528
URL: http://www.abilitiesfund.org/"This summer The Abilities Fund, together with a national lending partner, will launch a nationwide direct loan program for entrepreneurs with disabilities. In 45 states, loan guarantees will also be available to as a means to secure loans for entrepreneurs. Flexible terms and competitive interest rates for microloans ranging from $500 - $25,000 will be offered.
In support of new microlending services, The Abilities Fund will be expanding its online presence to include training and technical assistance. Soon, people with disabilities nationwide will have 24-hour access to features such as Feasibility First ©, business plan development, and financial planning for business startup -- all of which are resources designed to prepare entrepreneurs with disabilities for self-employment."ACCION Chicago
1618 West 18th Street, Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60608
Phone: (312) 275-3000
Fax: (312) 275-3010
E-mail: info@accionchicago.org
URL: http://www.accionchicago.org"Mission: To strengthen the economic health of Chicago communities by supporting entrepreneurial initiatives that increase long-term income, employment, and networking opportunities among the marginalized self- employed in a self-sufficient manner.
Geographic Area Served: Cook County and 10 surrounding counties. Lake McHenry, Kane, DeKaulb, LeSalle, Kendall, Grundy, Dupage, Will and Kankakee"
Arts Bridge, Incubator Program and Art Works Membership Program
2936 North Southport, Suite 210, Chicago, IL 60657
Phone: (773) 296-0948
Fax: (773) 296-0968
URL: http://www.artsbridge.org/Geographic Area Served: Greater Chicago area (Urban, Suburban)
Mission: Cultivate the artistic endeavors of nonprofit organizations by nurturing their organizational developmentBusiness Center of Decatur
2121 South Imboden Ct., Decatur, IL 62521
Phone: (217) 423-2832
Fax: (217) 423-7214
URL: http://www.decaturcenter.com/2home.htmThe Business Center of Decatur is a business incubator, in which a number of new and growing businesses operate with affordable rents, shared office services and access to professional, technical and financial assistance during early, critical stages of development.
Business Enterprise Program
Business Enterprise Program for Minorities, Females, and Persons with Disabilities
100 West Randolph Street, Suite 4-400, Chicago, Illinois, 60601
Phone: (312) 814-4190 (Voice and TDD), (800) 356-9206 (BEP Toll Free Line), (800) 526-0844 (Illinois Relay Line for the Hearing Impaired)
E-mail: BEP@ccmailgw.state.il.us
URL: http://www.sell2.illinois.gov/bep/Business_Enterprise.htmThe Illinois Business Enterprise Program for Minorities, Females, and Persons with Disabilities (BEP) promotes the economic development of businesses owned by minorities, females, and persons with disabilities. The Business Enterprise for Minorities, Females, and Persons with Disabilities Act is designed to encourage state agencies to purchase needed goods and services from businesses owned and controlled by members of minority groups, women, and/or persons with disabilities.
Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce
1154 Ridge Road, Homewood, IL 60430
Phone: (708) 957-6950
Fax: (708) 957-6968
URL: http://www.chicagosouthland.com/business-assistance/Our mission is to represent and promote the best interests of the regional business community and
its members by working to improve the economic climate, business environment and community
image of the Chicago Southland region.Chicago Technology Park & Research Center
2201 W. Campbell Park Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60612
Phone: (312) 829-7252
E-mail: ctp@imdc.org
URL: http://www.techpark.com/researchcenter/rc.htmThe purpose of Chicago Technology Park is to provide attractive, affordable facilities in a research and technology environment where entrepreneurial ventures can take root, young companies can develop their potential and established firms can expand their opportunities. The Technology Park Research Center was started in 1987 as a small business incubator for biotechnology and information technology.
City of Rockford / Economic Development Division / Enterprise Zone / Small Business Loan Program / Federally-Funded Business Assistance
425 East State Street, Rockford, IL 61104
Phone: (815) 987-5610
Fax: (815) 967-6933
URL: http://www.rockfordil.com/Geographic Area Served: City of Rockford, Illinois (Urban)
Mission: To create businesses capable of supporting their owners and employees at levels above low- and moderate- income status.Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center
150 E. Pleasant Hill Rd., Carbondale, IL 62901-6891
Phone: (618) 536-4451
Fax: (618) 453-5040
URL: http://www.siu.edu/~econdev/bip/bipindex.htmThrough the Incubator Program the Dunn Richmond Economic Development Center provides rental space for start-up and expanding businesses needing in-depth assistance.
The Economic Development Council for the Peoria Area
124 South West Adams Street, Suite 300, Peoria, Illinois 61602
Phone: (309) 676-0755
Fax: (309) 676-7534
URL: http://www.peoriachamber.org/Technical assistance and micro-loans to low-moderate income residents of the counties of Peoria, Tazwell and Woodford.
Greater North-Pulaski Development Corporation/Small Business Development Center
4054 West North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60639
Phone: (773) 384-2262
Fax: (773) 384-3850
E-mail: sbdc@gnpdc.org
URL: http://www.gnpdc.org/sbdc.htmlGeographic Area Served: West and northwest side of Chicago, Illinois (Urban)
Mission: To provide quality technical assistance to draft business plans, analyze credit-worthiness, match public and private loan programs to client need, and structure loan requests.Greater Sterling Development Corporation
1741 Industrial Drive, Sterling, IL 61081
Phone: (815) 625-5255
Fax: (815) 625-5094
E-mail: info@sterlingdevelopment.org
URL: http://www.sterlingdevelopment.org/Service Area: City of Sterling, Whiteside and Lee counties.
The Greater Sterling Development Corporation is a private, non-profit corporation, whose goal is to to grow, retain, expand, and attract business and industry to Sterling, Illinois. We work closely with the City of Sterling and the Sterling Chamber of Commerce to best assist business and industrial development.Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago
Fulton Carroll Center
2023 West Carroll Avenue, Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: (312) 421-3941
Fax: (312) 421-1871
URL: http://www.industrialcouncil.com
Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, Starting A Business
James R. Thompson Center
100 West Randolph, Suite 3-400, Chicago, Illinois 60601
Phone: (312) 814-7179
TDD: (800) 419-0667
or
620 East Adams, Springfield, Illinois 62701
Phone: (217) 782-7500
TDD: (800) 785-6055
URL: http://www.illinoisbiz.biz/dceo/
- Minority, Women and Disabled Participation Loan Program
URL: http://www.ildceo.net/dceo/Bureaus/Business_Development/Loan+Programs/mwd.htmIllinois Development Finance Authority
233 South Wacker Drive, Suite 5310, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 627-1434 or (800) 717-6066
For the hearing impaired: TTY (800) 526-0844
Voice: (800) 526-0857
Facsimile: 312-496-0578
E-mail: Info@idfa.com
URL: http://www.idfa.com/Service Area: Statewide with the exceptions of Peoria, Tazwell, Woodford, Whiteside and Lee counties, the City of Sterling, and those portions of Chicago currently served by WSEP. The Illinois Development Finance Authority ("IDFA") is the premier conduit tax-exempt bond issuer in the State of Illinois of industrial development revenue bonds ("IRBs"), non-profit revenue bonds ("501(c)(3) bonds") and local government bonds. Other Authority programs include venture capital, participation loans and Title IX, FmHA and SBA MicroLoans. Assisting Illinois corporations and governments since 1983, IDFA issues, invests or loans nearly $1 billion annually.
Illinois State Microenterprise Initiative
c/o University of Illinois Extension
4550 Kennedy Drive, Suite 2, East Moline, IL 61244
Darlene Knipe
Phone: (309) 792-2500
Fax: (309) 792-2602
E-mail: kniped@mail.aces.uiuc.edu
URL: http://www.ilmicroenterprise.org/We are an association of organizations in Illinois that assist people in becoming self-sufficient through self-employment. Our mission is to enhance economic growth in lower-income communities by supporting the development of small businesses owned by those facing the barriers of race, gender, education, and access to capital.
Jewish Vocational Services Chicago, the Duman Microenterprise Center and Loan Fund
1 South Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60640
Phone: (312) 357-4548
Fax: (312) 553-5544
E-mail: janetshlaes@jvschicago.org
URL: http://jvschicago.orgJVS can help if you are a small business owner who is planning an expansion, the Duman Microenterprise Center and Loan Fund is an exciting new program that helps people to become established through entrepreneurship.The Loan Fund provides targeted capital to Jewish entrepreneurs for start-up or pre-existing small businesses.
Prairie State 2000 Authority
James R. Thompson Center
100 West Randolph, Suite 4-800, Chicago, Illinois 60601
Phone: (312) 814-2700 TDD: (312) 814-3842
Fax: (312) 814-2703
E-mail: tiffany_hawkins@cms.state.il.us
URL: http://www.state.il.us/ps2000The Prairie State 2000 Authority invests in "at-risk" small to medium-sized Illinois companies and their workers who must retrain in new technologies or quality/productivity improvement systems in order to remain competitive.
A Resource Directory for Minorities, Women, Veterans and Disabled Persons
Starting or Owning a Business
URL: http://www.illinoisbiz.biz/nr/rdonlyres/C0D2F99E-F512-4909-B0C3-5A1730FE73C4/0/MinoritiesWomenVeteransDisabledPersons_ResourceDirectory.pdfSelf-Employment Resources Network (SERN)
Health & Disability Advocates
Phone: (312) 223-9600
Fax: (312) 223-9518
E-mail: mfrawley@hdadvocates.org
URL: http://www.hdadvocates.org/Organization2/index.htm"The Self-Employment Resources Network, SERN, is a task force on self-employment comprised of state agencies, private vocational rehabilitation agencies, both small business owners and self-employed persons who have a disability, parents, and advocacy groups. SERN seeks to locate and translate resource information into user-friendly terms, facilitate networking opportunities, and offer assistance in identifying and developing procedures for persons with disabilities wanting to be self-employed."
Starting your Business in Illinois Handbook. Part 1, Part 2
URL: http://www.illinoisbiz.biz/NR/rdonlyres/97F6B198-85F6-4523-80F5-676B526E84DF/0/StartingaBusinessInIllinois_June05.pdfTri-County Opportunities Council/TCOC Microenterprise Development Program
405 Emmons Avenue, PO Box 610, Rock Falls, IL 61071
Phone: (815) 625-7830 or (800) 323-5434
Fax: (815) 626-3762
URL: http://www.ilheadstart.org/programs/61071.htmlGeographic Area Served: Bureau, Caroll, LaSalle, Lee, Marshall, Ogle, Putnam, Stark, and Whiteside Counties in Illinois (Rural)
Mission: To alleviate poverty through business development and the creation of jobs for low-income people.Turner Center for Entrepreneurship
1501 West Bradley Avenue, 141 Jobst Hall, Peoria, IL 61625
Phone: (309) 677-4321
Fax: (309) 677-3386
URL: http://www.bradley.edu/turnercenter/Our services include: Management and technical assistance, Education and training for existing businesses, Education and training for new businesses, Business planning and tax seminars, Market research, Business plans, and Financial projections.
Uptown Center Hull House/Economic Development Unit
4520 North Beacon Street, Chicago, IL 60640
Phone: (773) 561-3500
Fax: (773) 561-3507
or
500 East 67th Chicago, IL 60637
Phone: (773) 955-8027
URL: http://www.hullhouse.org/Geographic Area Served: Primarily Uptown and Edgewater neighborhoods of Chicago, IL (Urban)
Uptown Center serves low to moderate income children, individuals and families with a variety of needs. Community Economic Development Unit helps people with limited resources create jobs and businesses in Uptown and surrounding neighborhoods. Our experts conduct small business and entrepreneurship workshops and advise start-up businesses on financing, marketing, and strategic planning.West Cook Community Development Corporation
1127 South Mannheim Road, Suite 102, Westchester, IL 60154
Phone: (708) 450-0100
Fax: (708) 450-0655
URL: http://www.westcook.orgGeographic Area Served: Western Cook County, Illinois (Urban, Suburban)
Mission: To enhance the quality of life for residents and business owners in West Cook County through economic development.Woodstock Institute
407 South Dearborn, Suite 550, Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: (312)427-8070
Fax: (312)427-4007
URL: http://www.woodstockinst.org/Woodstock Institute, a Chicago nonprofit incorporated in 1973, works locally and nationally to promote community reinvestment and economic development in lower-income and minority communities. We work with community organizations, financial institutions, foundations, government agencies, and others to promote our goals.
Women's Business Development Center (WBDC)
8 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: (312) 853-3477
Fax: (312) 853-0145
E-mail wbdc@wbdc.org
URL: http://www.wbdc.org/default_Flash.asp
Founded in 1986, the WBDC serves women business owners in the greater Chicago area, and advocates for women business owners nationwide. The WBDC has assisted in the establishment of Demonstration sites since 1989 in Illinois, Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. The WBDC provides a variety of entrepreneurial training courses and seminars: one-on-one counseling; financial assistance and loan packaging for micro-loans, the SBA Prequalification Loan Program and other SBA and government loan programs including the mentor/protege program; WBE certification and private and public sector procurement; annual conference and Women's Buyers Mart; and extensive advocacy and policy development for women's economic and business development issues.
Women's Self-Employment Project (WSEP)
20 North Clark, 4th Floor, Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: (312) 606-8255
Fax: (312) 606-9215
E-mail: cevans@interaccess.com
URL: http://www.wsep.net/wsephot.htmlWSEP provides credit, technical assistance and training through an individual lending program, a group lending program (the Full Circle Fund) and an Entrepreneurial Training Program. WSEP's services are targeted to low and moderate income women in the Chicago area. Its goal is to assist these women to achieve self- sufficiency through self-employment.
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