The City of Chicago is in Jefferson Park for the last Small Business Center ‘On the Road’ expo of the year. The expo is being held today, on Saturday, October 29, 2016 at the Copernicus Center till to 2 p.m. at 5216 W. Lawrence Avenue and is free and open to the public. The President and CEO of Lifeway Foods, Julie Smolyansky, will be the keynote speaker.
The expo is offering free resources to business owners and entrepreneurs to network, consult, gather information and expert advice on topics such as licensing, financing and business planning. Approximately 50 government and non-profit agencies is available at the expo, which is hosted by the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP).
“We are encouraging small business owners, entrepreneurs and consumers from across Chicago to stop by and take advantage of the helpful resources available,” BACP Commissioner Maria Guerra Lapacek said. “These events are part of Mayor Emanuel’s committing the making it easier to do business in Chicago’s neighborhoods and we want everyone to learn what Chicago has to offer.”
Some of the many resources are free professional headshots, hairstyling by a celebrity stylist from BLOWN by bocaj, make-up touch ups by Ulta Cosmetics, sales pitch training as well as consumer and financial help and a tax and legal clinic will be available.
The two scheduled workshops immediately following the keynote speech from noon until 1 p.m. are:
Workshop 1: Access to Capital: Helping Your Business Grow”
Presented by: Fifth Third Bank and ACCION
While businesses often need capital to grow, capital, sometimes isn’t always easy to secure. This workshop addresses traditional and non-traditional credit sources and how to best prepare for when your company needs it most.
Workshop 2: How to Start a Successful Business
Presented by SCORE
Do you have what it takes to start and run a successful business? If so, what are the first steps you should take? This workshop will help you assess your prospects, give you the initial direction you need, and inspire you to move forward to realize your dream.
The Small Business Center ‘On the Road’ is a series of five free expos in neighborhoods throughout Chicago. The series is a partnership between the BACP, the Chicago Office of New Americans, Western Union, Fifth Third Bank and COUNTRY Financial®.
The expo is part of the Mayor’s agenda to support neighborhood businesses and economic development. Each expo offers business consultants to help attendees apply or renew a business license. 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 one-hour networking session, hosted by City Treasurer Kurt Summers, will start at 1 p.m. to wrap up the expo.
(BACP)
Caption: City Treasurer Kurt Summers (R) at The Taste of Polonia last summer. Summer is hosting networking session at the Copernicus Center on Saturday, October 29 PACC
Alicja Otap
