The month of October is Women's Business Month here in Illinois. This month is a time to recognize and support businesses of all sizes that are owned and operated by women that contribute to our communities. The Small Business Administration (SBA) connects business owners with others to plan, start, or grow their business. Learn more about the resources and opportunities offered by the SBA such as their Women's Business Centers.
Throughout October, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), together with the community, will host events to empower Women-owned businesses and future founders throughout the state. The monthlong celebration will also include initiatives and resources to advance, elevate, and inspire Women as they start, sustain, and scale their businesses. Join us in supporting Women-owned businesses throughout Illinois!
Webinars
Women in Manufacturing
Wednesday | October 19 | 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM | webinar
In celebration of Women's Business Month and Manufacturing Month, join the ecosystem for a day of connecting and celebrating women in manufacturing, engineering, and hardtech! The half-day program will convene influential women making tremendous impact in the manufacturing industry and empower young women interested in STEM to explore opportunities in variety of career fields.
Women in Manufacturing is hosted and presented by mHUB, in collaboration with Gender Equality in Tech (GET) Cities Chicago, National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Chicago chapter, and the State of Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO).
5 Tips on Managing Your Company's Digital Presence
Wednesday | October 26 |10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | webinar
Managing a business on top of your marketing strategy can get overwhelming. This webinar will cover 5 helpful tips and different digital tools that can keep you on top of your company's digital presence.
This digital literacy webinar will be presented by the Women's Business Development Center (WBDC) and is part of the monthly webinar series Advancing the Development of Minority Entrepreneurship (ADME), which is hosted by the Office of Minority Economic Empowerment (OMEE) at DCEO & the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network.
Financial Capital Resources for Illinois Women-Owned Businesses
Thursday | October 27 | 10:00 – 11:00 AM | webinar
Securing financial capital is a major obstacle for Women-owned businesses, and it's even more challenging for businesses owned by women of color due to historical inequities. With women being approved for bank loans at a lower rate, in addition to being underinvested - only receiving around 2% of venture funding in 2021 compared to men, we'll discuss avenues for financial capital to help women in Illinois start, sustain, and expand their businesses.
Additional Resources
Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) offer a variety of services, training, and information to help businesses start-up and grow. Find an SBDC near you to learn more.
Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) help small businesses expand into work with government contracting. For more information, find a PTAC near you.
Illinois workNet knows that running your own business takes time, dedication, and a lot of hard work. Every day small business owners are helping create more jobs, growing a business, and cultivating innovation; and that is why we do our best to offer as many great resources as we can to help make your job just a little bit easier. Our resources can be used by new business owners, those interested in starting their own business or growing their businesses, entrepreneurs, individuals working with small businesses, and more. Illinois workNet's Starting a Business Guide includes articles and resources you can use to start your own business or help your business grow. Included in this guide is information about:
- Benefits of Starting a Business
- What to Know Before Starting a Business
- What to do Before You Start a Business
- Running Your Business
- Virtual Job Fairs
- Finding Employee Based Training
- Entrepreneurial Programs
- Building an Online Presence
- Growing Your Business and much more
Read our article for Women's History Month that shows examples of influential women in different industries.
Be sure to follow our event calendar for upcoming events and social media pages to learn more about career fields women are emerging in:
