City of Chicago Provided 2,500 Entrepreneurs Free Business Workshops
Partners with Agencies Across the City to Support Existing and Potential Entrepreneurs
December 4, 2014
The City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection (BACP) is hosting its final six small business workshops of 2014 at City Hall throughout December. Throughout the year, the City has hosted more than 90 works and has helped nearly 2,500 entrepreneurs with business planning, marketing, technology, social media, financial issues and much more.
“We offer free workshops designed to help business owners, budding entrepreneurs, and nonprofit agencies learn the essential elements of starting and growing a business,” said Commissioner Maria Guerra Lapacek, of BACP. “Chicago is made up of small businesses and we want to help them succeed.”
City of Chicago officials are scheduled to present the workshops “City Inspections – Ask Questions, Get Answers,” and “Contracting 101: How to Respond to a Request for Proposal.”
Additionally, Urban Shuffle will present “A Mobile Marketing Experience;” Mary Jane Alagehband, of Country Financial, Jennifer Barliant and Laurie Kaplan, of Michael Silver & Company, and Jessica L. Oldani, of Oldani Entrepreneurial Law, P.C., will present “Protecting Your Business from Legal, Insurance and Financial Risks;” Denise Ching, of Illinois SBDC at UIC, will present “Venture Finance: How to Access Financing for Your Business,” and Jody Adler, of The Law Project of the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, will present “How to Start a Nonprofit.”
The Small Business Center at the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection hosts free business workshops every Wednesday and Friday in Room 805 at City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St., Chicago. Workshops are conducted by city officials, BACP’s partner organizations, and experts in the industry. To register for a workshop or for more information, call (312) 744-2086 or email [email protected]. Learn more about BACP programs and events by visiting www.cityofchicago.org/SBC.
December 2014 Business Workshop Calendar
12/3 City Inspections – Ask Questions, Get Answers
3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Presented by the City of Chicago
To operate a successful business in Chicago you must know the requirements. Talk to officials from four City departments who will provide insight to operate safely, stay compliant, help prepare for inspections and point out the do’s and don’ts of operating your business. Don’t miss this workshop!
12/5 A Mobile Marketing Experience
9:30 to 11:00 a.m.
Presented by Urban Shuffle
Join us for a mobile marketing experience breaking down different aspects including mobile coupons, landing pages, and calls to action. We’ll discuss inside strategies, tips, and share tools to help you manage marketing and advertising in the digital age. Be prepared to put your own mobile device to use in this modern workshop.
12/10 Protecting Your Business from Legal, Insurance and Financial Risks
3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Presented by Mary Jane Alagehband of Country Financial, Jennifer Barliant and Laurie Kaplan of Michael Silver & Company, and Jessica L. Oldani of Oldani Entrepreneurial Law, P.C.
Do you understand the different forms of doing business, and how to stay in compliance? Are you prepared to handle payments, cash flow, accounting, and initial tax issues? Is your business covered against the risk of liability and other potential costs? This team of professionals will teach you the real world tips and truths fundamental to every business’s success story. These are the practical things that can make or break a business.
12/12 Venture Finance: How to Access Financing for Your Business
9:30 to 11:00 a.m.
Presented by Denise Ching, Illinois SBDC at UIC
Have you wondered about how to finance your business? In this workshop you will get an overview of the various types of funding available for your business and how to access them. During this 3-part course you will discover: What funding options are available, how to prepare for debt, and how to prepare for equity.
12/17 Contracting 101: How to Respond to a Request for Proposal (RFP)
3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Presented by the City of Chicago Department of Procurement Services (DPS)
This workshop is designed to teach business owners how to respond to a City of Chicago RFP. Learn what evaluators look for in a RFP and how to avoid common mistakes. Learn helpful tips on how to navigate RFP specifications.
12/19 How to Start a Nonprofit
9:30 -11:00 a.m.
Presented by Jody Adler, The Law Project of the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights under Law
Learn the ins and outs of starting a nonprofit charitable organization. This workshop covers the difference between a for-profit business and a nonprofit organization, the legal steps to obtaining tax exemption, and the on-going reporting requirements.
12/24, 26, and 31 NO WORKSHOP DUE TO HOLIDAY
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