Note: The Links below are checked annualy for accuracy, but they may have change since the last audit.
BUSINESS ASSISTANCE CENTERS
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) / Illinois Entrepreneurship Network: www.ilbiz.biz/
- If you have a company with high growth potential that can use assistance with product licensing and accessing capital, technology, and networks, then Entrepreneurship Centers (EC) are for you.
- If your small business can use assistance with management, business plans, marketing and financing, then Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) are for you.
- If you have a business that sells products to government agencies and need one-on-one counseling, technical information and assistance with marketing and training, then Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC) are for you.
- If you have a new-to-export company interested in pursuing international trade opportunities and would like to have access to more information as well as training and counseling, then International Trade Centers (ITC)/NAFTA Opportunity Centers (NOC) are for you.
- If you are a small to mid-size manufacturer and are interested in an on-site consultation to improve your performance, increase your competitiveness, and benchmark your goals, then Manufacturing Extension Centers (MEC) are for you.
ILLINOIS ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTERS
CenterPoint Entrepreneurial Center / SBDC
Governor’s State University
College of Business
1 Unversity Parkway, Room C3300
Chicago Community Ventures / Chicago West Side Entrepreneurship Center
700 North Sacramento Blvd., Ste. 130
Chicago, IL 60612
tel: 773-822-0320
www.chiventures.org
Greater Southside Entrepreneurship Center / SBDC
Chicago State University
9501 South King Drive, BHS 602
Chicago, IL 60628
tel: 773-995-3953
www.csu.edu/gsec/
ILLINOIS SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS
College of DuPage Business and Professional Institute SBDC / PTAC / ITC
425 Fawell Boulevard
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137-6599
tel: 630-942-2771 or 630-942-3775
www.cod.edu/BPI/sbdc.htm
College of Lake County Workforce and Professional Development Institute SBDC / PTAC
19351 East Washington Street, Room T-302
Grayslake, IL 60030-1198
tel: 847-543-2033
wpdi.clcillinois.edu/sbdc/
Elgin Community College SBDC
1700 Spartan Drive, UBC 107
Elgin, IL 60123-7193
tel: 847-214-7488
www.elgin.edu/business
Evanston Technology Innovation Center SBDC
820 Davis Street, Suite 137
Evanston, IL 60201
tel: 847-866-1800
www.sbdc-evanston.org
Greater North Chicago Development Corporation SBDC
6600 W. Armitage
Chicago, IL 60607-3908
tel: 773-637-2768
www.gnpdc.org/sbdc.html
Hull House SBDC
Jane Addams Hull House – Parkway Community House
500 East 67th Street
Chicago, IL 60637-4097
Phone: 773-561-3500 x-215
www.hullhouse.org
Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago SBDC
2010 West Fulton, Suite 280
Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: 312-421-3941
www.industrialcouncil.com
Joliet Jr. College SBDC
City Center Campus, Room 400
214 North Ottawa Street
Joliet, IL 60432-4077
tel: 815-280-1400
www.jjcced.org/
The Joseph Center SBDC
7600 West Roosevelt
Forest Park, IL 60130
tel: 708-697-5440
www.josephcenter.com
North Business & Industrial Council (NORBIC) SBDC / PTAC / ITC / NOC
5353 West Armstrong Avenue
Chicago, IL 60646-6509
Phone: 773-594-9292
www.illinoismanufacturing.org
University of Illinois at Chicago SBDC
College of Business Administration (MC 090)
601 South Morgan Street, Suite B4 UH
Chicago, IL 60607
tel: 312-996-4057
www.uic.edu/cba/cub/
ILLINOIS PROCUREMENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTERS
MANUFACTURING EXTENSION CENTERS
Chicago Metropolitan Area:
Chicago Manufacturing Center
247 South State Street, Suite 1000
Statewide beyond Chicago Metropolitan Area:
Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center (IMEC)
1501 W. Bradley Avenue
Peoria, IL 61625
tel: 888-806-4632
www.imec.org/imec.nsf
BUSINESS BROKERS
International Business Brokers Association: Trade Information and Directory
Inc.com Resource Center: “Buy & Sell A Business”
FINANCE
Access to capital guidance and resources: See “Business Assistance Centers” section
Cash Flow Management
Inc.com: “How Do You Define Cash Flow?”
Debt Financing and Related Services
National City Bank Women’s Business Advocates:
Equity Financing and related services
Illinois Innovation Accelerator Fund (i²A): Seed-Stage Investments
Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center: Venture Capital Forums
GRANTS
IL DCEO Challenge Grants: Matching grant programs that assist businesses with high-growth potential in obtaining professional services that will assist in the acquisition of capital, increase in revenue, or other accelerated support services. Grants are administered locally by:
Chicago Community Ventures:
Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center:
Innovate Illinois: Statewide Innovative Business Concept Competition
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Annual and Quarterly US Trade Data:
http://tse.export.gov/
Illinois (DCEO) Office of Trade and Investment Network
IllinoisDepartment of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
100 W. Randolph, Suite 3-400
Chicago, IL 60601
tel: 312-814-2828
www.commerce.state.il.us/dceo/Bureaus/Trade/
Illinois International Trade Center at College of DuPage
425 Fawell Boulevard
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137-6599
tel: 630-942-3052
www.cod.edu/BPI/sbdc.htm
Illinois International Trade & NAFTA Opportunity Centers
at North Business & Industrial Council (NORBIC)
5353 West Armstrong Avenue
Chicago, IL 60646-6509
tel: 773-594-9292
www.norbic.org
US Council for International Business-Roanoke Trade
1501 E. Woodfield Road, Suite 302N
Schaumburg, Illinois 60173
tel: 847-969-8211 or 800-762-6653
www.uscib.org/
US Export Assistance Centers
www.export.gov
Cook County:
200 West Adams Street, Suite 2450
Chicago, IL 60606
tel: 312.353-8040
Lake County:
28055 Ashley Circle, Suite 212
Libertyville, IL 60048
tel: 847-327-9082
US Small Business Administration:
“Breaking into the Trade Game: A Small Business Guide”
World Trade Center Illinois
200 E. Randolph, Suite 2200
Chicago, Illinois 60601
tel: 312-467-0603
www.wtcc.org
US Patent and Trademark Office:
MANAGEMENT TOOLKITS & RESOURCE LIBRARIES
Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center:
Entrepreneur.com Business Center:
FormNet: Downloadable business planning and performance forms
Inc.com Resource Centers:
US Chamber of Commerce Small Business Center:
MANUFACTURING
Infomat: Fashion industry search engine
MARKETING
Chicago Community Ventures: Marketing training program for manufacturing executives
Entrepreneur.com Business Center: Guide to Creating a Plan
FormNet: Downloadable customer survey, market research and cost analysis forms
Research & Statistics
Illinois Public Records: Directory of businesses (competitors)
Northern Illinois Business and Industry Data Center: Current and historical demographic and economic statistics covering the 24-county Northern Illinois region www.illinoisdata.com/
World Business Chicago Info Center: Chicagoland industries data
Industry Trade Data and Analysis
US Department of Commerce
MENTORING
ATHENAPowerLink®: Professional advisory panels for women entrepreneurs
Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center:
College of Lake County:
NETWORKING & BUSINESS ADVOCACY
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce:
www.chicagolandchamber.org
Regional Directory of Northeastern Illinois Chambers of Commerce
www.chicagolandchamber.org/sub/membership_directory_search.asp
Illinois Chamber of Commerce:
Statewise Directory of Illinois Chambers of Commerce
Lake County Area Chambers of Commerce:
Antioch Chamber
Barrington Chamber
Deerfield-Bannockburn-Riverwoods Chamber
Fox Lake Area Chamber
GLMV Chamber of Commerce (Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein, Vernon Hills)
Grayslake Chamber
Highland Park Chamber
Lake County Chamber of Commerce
Lake Forest / Lake Bluff Chamber
Lake Zurich Area Chamber
Lindenhurst / Lake Villa Chamber
Lincolnshire Chamber
Round Lake Area Chamber
Zion Chamber of Commerce