CITY OF CHICAGO PARTNERS WITH FIFTH THIRD BANK TO EXPAND 2016 SMALL BUSINESS EXPO ‘ON THE ROAD’ SERIES
Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) through the Small Business Center (SBC) today announced a partnership with Fifth Third Bank for the 2016 Small Business Expo ‘On the Road’ series. The partnership will allow the SBC to offer additional free resources at each expo, and help the city’s small business owners and entrepreneurs start or expand their business.
“Mayor Emanuel’s administration is committed to supporting Chicago’s entrepreneurs and small businesses,” BACP Commissioner Maria Guerra Lapacek said. “Small businesses are the economic backbone of Chicago and with programs like this, we are working to ensure that our small businesses have the skills and resources to create jobs in our neighborhoods and keep our communities strong and vibrant.”
Each year, the city of Chicago hosts the Small Business Center ‘On the Road’, which is a series of five free expos in neighborhoods throughout Chicago. The series is a partnership between (BACP), the Office of New Americans (ONA), Western Union and now Fifth Third Bank. As part of this new partnership, Fifth Third bank is providing a $25,000 grant to support the series.
“We are thrilled to partner with the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection to further its connection and reach to area small businesses and startups,” said Robert A. Sullivan, CEO & Regional President, Fifth Third Bank (Chicago). “Small businesses are the engines of job creation in the United States. Their value and the role they play in our economy and in the quality of life of the city is incredible.”
The expo is part of the Mayor’s agenda to support neighborhood businesses and economic development. The expo offers entrepreneurs and business owners the opportunity to consult, network and gather information from almost 40 government and non-profit agencies on topics such as licensing, financing and business planning. Business consultants from the SBC will be on hand to help attendees apply or renew for a business license and make an appointment for additional counseling at City Hall. In addition, the Center for Economic Progress will provide a free tax clinic and The Law Project will provide a free legal clinic with representatives offering 20-minute consultations. A professional photographer will be on hand to take free headshots for attendees to use on their social media sites and marketing materials. A one-hour networking session, hosted by City Treasurer Kurt Summers, will wrap up each expo from 1 p.m. 2 p.m.
2016 Small Business Expo ‘On the Road’ series dates and locations:
- February 27, 2016 @ Kennedy King College
- April 30, 2016 @ Arturo Velasquez Institute
- June 25, 2016 @ South Shore Cultural Center
- September 10, 2016 @ Columbus Park Refectory
- October 29, 2016 @ Copernicus Center
To register for an expo or for more information, visit chismallbizexpo.com, call (312) 744-2086 or email [email protected]. For more information about the City of Chicago’s Small Business Center and the Small Business on the Road expo series, visit www.cityofchicago.org/sbc.
