The Women's Business Development Center (WBDC) is a nonprofit that supports entrepreneurs—especially women—through training, advising, and access to capital to start, grow, and scale businesses.
Illinois
A searchable directory to find your local chamber of commerce by state, city, or territory, helping businesses connect with their nearest chamber.
National
CO— by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce offers small business owners actionable advice, expert content, tools, and resources to help start, run, and grow successful companies.
National
Jasper Photography LLC owner Sam Wilson relaunched her luxury-photography business with support from Allies for Community Business, SCORE, IL SBDC and WBDC — using funding and resources to upgrade equipment, expand services, and strengthen her impact as a Black woman entrepreneur in Chicago. Check Out the Story Here…
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready helped a nutrition-consultancy founder grow her business via free coaching, peer networking and savvy digital-marketing tips. Read More Here.
Sunshine Enterprises alum Ora Wardlow, founder of Café 322 Urban Bistro, leveraged the Community Business Academy and strategic coaching to elevate her catering brand and create community impact. Read More Here.
Join Grow with Google for training and live workshops to boost productivity with AI, connect with customers, and sell online, no matter your stage in the entrepreneurial journey.
National
The SBA guides entrepreneurs in writing business plans, offering templates, examples, and resources to structure, run, and grow a business effectively.
For more information, visit SBA.gov
National
NCCDC offers personalized one-on-one business coaching to help CEOs assess their current state, set goals, troubleshoot issues, and bridge gaps for growth, saving time and fostering success.
Illinois
The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the Chicagoland Chamber offers free one-on-one advising, workshops, and resources to help start or grow your business.
Illinois
Allies for Community Business offers free one-on-one and group coaching to help entrepreneurs strengthen their business plans, operations, and finances.
Located in Chicago, but serving all of Illinois and Indiana
Greenwood Archer Capital provides $10K–$500K loans to small businesses in historically disinvested communities, offering flexible capital to support growth, stability, and long-term success.
Illinois
VBOCs assist clients in developing and maintaining a business plan. The business plan includes such elements as the legal form of the business, equipment requirements and cost, organizational structure, a strategic plan, market analysis, and a financial plan.
For more information, visit SBA.gov
National
The WBC program was founded to foster the growth of women-owned businesses by providing access to education, training, mentoring, business development and financing opportunities to women throughout the United States and its territories.
National
SBDCs provide problem-solving assistance to help small businesses access capital, develop and exchange new technologies, and improve business planning, strategy, operations, financial management, personnel administration, marketing, export assistance and sales.
For more information, visit SBA.gov
National
