• Go
 

Section Menu

 
Title

Events in your area

Enter your ZIP code to find business-related events in your area of Illinois.

An event has a specific location (zip code) and occurance date   A news item is used for announcing general information for a local workforce investment area (LWIA) or state-wide 

 

  

City Creates Bid Incentives to Promote Disabled-Owned Businesses


On January 13, the Chicago City Council passed an ammendment to the Business Enterprise Owned by People with Disabilities (BEPD) ordinance to encourage the utilization of City-certified, disabled-owned businesses and contractors.

"BEPDs are underutilized business enterprises in Chicago," said Mayor Daley.  "The new bid incentives underscore the City's commitment to increasing procurement opportunities for disabled-owned businesses by stimulating the participation of BEPDs as both prime contractors and subcontractors."

The incentive levels are contingent upon the percentage of the contract performed by the BEPD.  The earned credits would then be applied as a bid incentive to future contracts sought by the contractor for up to three years.  The BEPD program was established in 2002 as part of the City's commitment to address the high unemployment rate of people with disabilities by enhancing economic opportunities for the disability community.

For more information on becoming a BEPD contact:
Department of Procurement Services: (312) 744-4900 (voice) (312) 744-2949 (TTY) 
Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities: (312) 744-7071 (voice) (312) 744-4964 (TTY)

 


For more information, visit: http://www.cityofchicago.org/disabilities External link opens in a new window

Studies Show Hiring People with Disabilities can help your bottom line

Labor Trends Change under the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 Qualifying More Americans as Persons with Disabilities

The revised 2008 Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act legislation, effective in January of 2009, redefined the act and broadened the scope of who is protected under the ADA. While more people may qualify under the new amendments, a study conducted by DePaul University funded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity through disabilityworks shows that hiring people with disabilities in your business actually benefits your bottom line.

disabilityworks , a workforce development initiative of the state of Illinois worked with DePaul University on the study and is proud to announce a state-wide business educational Chamber Summit titled “Everything you wanted to know about disabilities but were afraid to ask!” disabilityworks has partnered with the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce who will coordinate this event. The summit will take place Wednesday, December 2nd where a Continental Breakfast will be served at Drury Inn & Suites, 1118 Central Park Drive from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. There is no charge for participating but registration is required. Please RSVP to the Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce https://secure.chambermaster.com/directory/jsp/events/dlg/Public_AddReg.jsp?ccid=467&eventid=2546 External link opens in a new window.

The summit will offer educational updates on the 2008 Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act as well as an opportunity for employers to obtain answers to frequently asked questions about employing people with disabilities and reaching out to this customer base which is good for their bottom line. The summit will provide abundant resources proving the business case and benefits that are present when employers include qualified workers with disabilities in their workforce.

The disabilityworks Chamber Summits are currently scheduled for nine locations across the state of Illinois where all summits will occur before the end of 2009.

Co-sponsors for the Chamber Summits are IL Chamber of Commerce, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, IL Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Small Business Development Centers, State of Illinois, DBTAC Great Lakes ADA Center and the IL Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services. Funding is made possible through the Federal Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG Grant) which is administered by the IL Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services.

A copy of the DePaul University Economic Impact Study identified above can be found at http://www.disabilityworks.org/default.asp?contentID=87 External link opens in a new window .

Find more information about disabilityworks visit www.disabilityworks.org External link opens in a new window .

For information about a Chamber Summit location, contact disabilityworks Executive Director Karen McCulloh kmcculloh@chicagolandchamber.org or your local disabilityworks Resource Coordinator La Keisha Adams ladams@chicagolandchamber.org or John Lengerman, Executive Director Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce, jlengerman@bellevillechamber.org or 618-233-2015.

About disabilityworks

disabilityworks is a workforce development initiative of the State of Illinois where the primary funding comes through the IL Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and is located at the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce with staff present in each of the Economic Development Regions across Illinois. disabilityworks seeks to increase the economic and employment opportunities of people with disabilities located in Illinois by promoting a collaborative partnership between the private and public sectors. Disabilityworks is a recipient of the 2006 US Dept. of Labor New Freedom Initiative Award. Find more information about disabilityworks by visiting www.disabilitywroks.org External link opens in a new window


For more information, visit: http://www.disabilityworks.org External link opens in a new window

Job/Career Fairs & Special Events

Are you looking for employment or trying to find a job or career fair to recruit individuals for your business?  Then check out the Job/Career Fairs & Special Events calendar hosted by the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) for events in your area.


For more information, visit: http://www.ides.state.il.us/db/event/default.asp External link opens in a new window

Black Star Project Mentoring Program

The Black Star Project is looking for successful and professional men and women of all races to become part of the largest classroom-based mentoring program in the country.  With as little as two hours per year, you can make a difference in the lives of students in Chicago-area schools.

We will train you to be a successful mentor.  The most important thing is that you share your life story and talk about your education, family and business success.   Please call Ivory Harris for more information at (773) 285-9600.

   

Make this website talk:Browse Aloud logo

  • Local Interest
    Attention: Developers, Contractors, and Sub-Contracting Firms: Neighborhood Stabilization Program RFP
    In August, 2008 the United States Congress authorized the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) as a federal grant under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA).  The purpose of this program is to provide emergency assistance for the acquisition and redevelopment of foreclosed and abandoned properties that might otherwise become sources of abandonment and blight within their communities.  The Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS), as the NSP administrator for the State, is currently seeking housing redevelopment proposals that will help revitalize and stabilize communities that have been the most negatively impacted by foreclosures, high-risk mortgages, and high rates of abandoned or vacant properties.

    HACIA has been hired as a sub-contractor to provide assistance with:
    -Outreach of potential and interested developers, general contractors and sub-contracting firms
    -Technical assistance in the preparation of responses to the NSP RFP
    -Technical assistance and consultation to sub-recipients throughout the duration of the program
    -Assistance with referrals of qualified contractors to interested applicants to meet diversity goals
    -Minority Certification assistance to qualified contractors

    The program requires the utilization of firms with the state's BEP (Business Enterprise Program).  The State recognizes the following agencie's certifications:

    -Illinois Department of Transportation
    -Chicago Minority Business Development Council
    -Women's Business Development Center
    -City of Chicago
    -Chicago Transportation Authority (CTA)
    -METRA
    -PACE
    -Cook County

    For more information or a copy of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program RFP please log on to www.haciaworks.org External link opens in a new window.

    For technical assistance and consultation related to NSP, please contact Juan Calahorrano or Gilbert Villegas at (312) 666-5910.

  •
    Innovate Now! Transforming the Chicagoland Region into a Globally Recognized Center for Innovation
    Innovate Now Logo

    Innovate Now! is a partnership of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the Council on Competitiveness, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and World Business Chicago.

    Innovate Now! will transform Chicagoland into a globally recognized center for innovation. The initiative encourages widespread adoption of innovative practices and strategies within the Chicagoland region, improving our capacity for growth and our ability to compete in the global economy.

    For more information on this initiative, visit the Innovate Now! External link opens in a new windowwebsite. 


  •
    Power your business with sustainability
    CSBA Image The Chicago Sustainable Business Alliance (part of Foresight Design Initiative) has effectively established itself as a hub and catalyst for the sustainable business community in Chicago, fostering the exchange of best practices and fueling business growth. We provide our members with opportunities for connection, education, knowledge sharing and promotion through our referral network, online Green Business Directory, and more.
    Visit the Chicago Sustainable Business Alliance External link opens in a new windowtoday!

  • Statewide Interest
    Economic Recovery Resources
    AARA emblem
    To learn about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), and identify projects being funded with taxpayer money, look for this emblem throughout Illinois workNet and on the internet.

    Learn more about the ARRA External link opens in a new window

  • IL Department of Transportation - Economic Recovery Information

    The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) includes $48 billion for transportation infrastructure consisting of highways and bridges, mass transit, rail and aviation.

    The transportation system in Illinois is at a crossroads, and is in need of the additional federal funds provided by the ARRA. ARRA funds will be utilized to support safer transportation systems, address environmental concerns, offset the erosion of the construction dollar, address the crippling levels of congestion/delay and meet the transportation demands of the future.

    In order to access the first half of the highway stimulus funds coming to Illinois, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has identified projects that can be awarded quickly to put people to work in the construction industry and to utilize the upcoming construction season. While the list of projects is larger than expected in the first wave of funding, it will allow Illinois to be in a position to spend any funds redistributed from other states.

    Click here External link opens in a new window to get more information and see a list of projects.


  •
    Is Your Business Positioned to Grow?
    IEN Banner Is your business positioned to grow with just a little help from people with know-how and the right connections? If so, the Illinois Entrepreneurship Network (IEN), the umbrella for all Illinois' small business services, can give you that help.  IEN helps you cut through the tangle of resources and find the ones you need to achieve your goals. This one seamless system makes it easy for you to to accelerate your company's growth.

    Visit the IEN website External link opens in a new window today.

  • Looking for the Official Business Link to the U.S. Government?
    Business.gov logo Business.gov provides quick and easy access to business laws, government regulations, forms and agency contacts.

    Visit the Business.gov External link opens in a new windowwebsite today.

  • Low Income Energy Efficient Residential Retrofit Program

    More than $213,000 in grants will help existing low-income homeowners replace items such as refrigerators, furnaces, lighting, dishwashers and air conditioners with energy-efficient models.

    Legislation approved last year created funding for programs and incentives through money from ComEd and Ameren to reduce electrical energy usage and demand by company customers.

    Click here External link opens in a new window to learn who is eligible and  how the process works.


  •
    Mentoring and Volunteerism as a Dropout Prevention Strategy
    Tutor/Mentor Connection In many of our schools, half or more of high school students do not graduate, let alone leave high school prepared to fully participate in civic life. 

    Businesses have an opportunity to get more personally involved in the lives of students in high poverty neighborhoods with failing schools to help end this crisis. 

    Learn more at the Tutor/Mentor Connection External link opens in a new window.

  • Register Your Company with Buy Illinois.Net
    Buy Illinois Logo The "Buy Illinois" initiative is a statewide series of regional trade fairs, procurement workshops and training programs designed to stimulate more in-state, business-to-business commerce and increase the self-sufficiency of the Illinois economy.

    Register your company at the Buy Illinois External link opens in a new windowwebsite.

  • The U.S. Economic Census
    U.S. Economic Census Logo The Economic Census profiles American business every 5 years, from the national to the local level. Detailed information provided by geographic area, zip code, and industry.

    Visit the U.S. Economic Census External link opens in a new windowto increase your knowledge of the business climate.

Footer

Copyright © 2006 - 2009 Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Illinois workNet Centers are an equal opportunity employer/program. At Illinois workNet Centers, auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers on this website may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment by calling TTY (800) 785-6055 or 711.