Find out how the SBAC benefits you and your business and learn how to get more involved at the New Member Orientation on Monday, June 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Rosewood Restaurant, located at 9421 Higgins Road in Rosemont.

SBAC President Mike Cavanaugh will welcome and address the group, and we'll provide an overview on SBAC networking events, cost-savings progras and advocacy initiatives that support small business growth.

After the presentation, enjoy lunch and get to know some of our new members. Lunch choice is either chicken or a fruit plate with bread, salad, potato, coffee, dessert, and water service.

A special thank you to our New Member Orientation Sponsor Op2mize, LLC. Op2mize provides comprehensive real estate transaction and advisory services to property owners and space users by bundling traditional fundamentals with best practices in innovation and sustainability, thus creating optimal value for each of our clients.

Please note RSVP is required. To RSVP for the Chicken plate please click here. To RSPV for the fruit plate click here. Tickets are $26 per person in advance and $30 at the door.

Please direct any questions to Jake Zine at admin@sbacil.org.

As the Chicago weather starts to catch up with the season, it's time to start looking for some summer recreation! Luckily, the SBAC and the YPG have just the thing. This summer we will be starting our own co-ed Softball team for members of these groups.

Games will be held at the Lincoln Park South Fields, 1627 North Stockton Drive, every Wednesday starting on July 10th, hosted by Chicago Sports Social. They'll be from 7pm to 11pm, and we have a guaranteed seven games, plus the possibility of play-off games.

In order to play, there is an 11 person minimum, at a cost of $100 per person. To ensure the slot does not sell out, we need everyone planning on playing to sign up and pay by Friday, May 31st.

If you have any questions or want to sign up, please contact Danny Stoller at Dannystoller23@gmail.com.

The SBAC has begun a "Perks" page, where you can look at some (more) of the great deals being an SBAC member affords you.

Looking to try out the Daily Herald Business Ledger? Try it for FREE for a year as an SBAC member!

Here's the link, don't miss out!
http://www.smallbusinessadvocacycouncil.org/sbac-perks

The SBAC has begun a "Perks" page, where you can look at some (more) of the great deals being an SBAC member affords you.

Looking to try out the Daily Herald Business Ledger? Try it for FREE for a year as an SBAC member!

Here's the link, don't miss out!
http://www.smallbusinessadvocacycouncil.org/sbac-perks

The SBAC is excited to team with Moraine Valley Community College and area business associations for a networking event.

The Moraine Valley lunch will be held in Building M, Room 3, at 9000 West College Parkway in Palos Hills today from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The lunch will provide an excellent opportunity to learn more about the SBAC advocacy initiatives to support small business growth and our growing coalition of community and business organizations across the state.

To purchase your ticket, please click here.

Please note, we will be closing the payment link at 5pm the day before the event.

There will be:
a half hour of networking (10:30a-11a)
an educational hour (11a-12p) and
lunch (12p-1p).

Speakers will be:
Ken Olson with The Horton Group and
Mitch Wilneff with Allied Benefit Systems, Inc.

Attached is the lunch menu.

The SBAC is excited to team with Moraine Valley Community College and area business associations for a networking event.

The Moraine Valley lunch will be held in Building M, Room 3, at 9000 West College Parkway in Palos Hills tomorrow from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The lunch will provide an excellent opportunity to learn more about the SBAC advocacy initiatives to support small business growth and our growing coalition of community and business organizations across the state.

To purchase your ticket, please click here.

Please note, we will be closing the payment link at 5pm the day before the event.

There will be:
a half hour of networking (10:30a-11a)
an educational hour (11a-12p) and
lunch (12p-1p).

Speakers will be:
Ken Olson with The Horton Group and
Mitch Wilneff with Allied Benefit Systems, Inc.

Attached is the menu.

The SBAC is excited to team with Moraine Valley Community College and area business associations for a networking event.

The Moraine Valley lunch will be held in Building M, Room 3 at 9000 West College Parkway in Palos Hills on Thursday, May 23rd, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The lunch will provide an excellent opportunity to learn more about the SBAC advocacy initiatives to support small business growth and our growing coalition of community and business organizations across the state.

To purchase your ticket, please click here.

Please note, we will be closing the payment link at 5pm the day before the event.

There will be:
a half hour of networking (10:30a-11a)
an educational hour (11a-12p)
and lunch (12p-1p).

Speakers will be:
Ken Olson with The Horton Group and
Mitch Wilneff with Allied Benefit Systems, Inc.

Attached is the menu.

The Small Business Advocacy Council (SBAC) will participate in the first-ever hearing of the House Small Business Empowerment and Workforce Development Committee devoted to developing a small business growth agenda this Wednesday, May 15 at the Illinois State Capitol.

The historic hearing in Springfield will bring together legislators, advocates and small business owners from around the state to discuss what changes in Illinois policies, taxes, fees and laws can help small businesses continue to power the growth in our economy.

“By holding this hearing, the Illinois legislature is demonstrating that it understands small business is a critical component of the State’s economy. Our 700 plus SBAC businesses have lots of ideas on how Illinois can make it easier for them to create and sustain more jobs.” said Elliot Richardson, CEO of the Small Business Advocacy Council.

Richardson identified the arbitrarily high LLC fees that small businesses are required to pay on an annual basis as a glaring example of a small business unfriendly policy and called on the General Assembly to lower these fees to a more reasonable level this year. “Illinois is presently perceived as a difficult place to operate a small business. For the sake of our local communities, we must work to change that perception immediately.” said Richardson.

Last week, the SBAC testified before an historic joint hearing of the House Revenue and State Government Committees on legislation they drafted with Representative Jack Franks to modernize and improve the state's keystone economic development program, the EDGE tax credit. The bill would expand the tax credit to small businesses by eliminating any capital requirement and removing the prohibition on professional services firms from applying, as well as bring transparency and greater competition to the process by focusing on the cost-per-job to the taxpayer as the key metric in determining who gets these tax breaks.

Here's a list of the SBAC committees, just to give you an idea of what your options are:
Community Outreach
Construction
Education
Health Care & Services
Health Care Wellness (Subcommittee)
Membership
Policy
PR & Communications
PR & Communications/Media Relations (Subcommittee)
PR & Communications/Social Media (Subcommittee)
PR & Communications/Search Engine Optimization (Subcommittee)
Retail & Restaurant
SBAC Connects
Veterans
Women's

Here is a link to the Committees page, where you can find more information about each one along with meeting times and dates.
http://smallbusinessadvocacycouncil.org/sbac-committees

Join us at our joint SBAC & BNI Chicago Happy Hour tonight from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Moe's Cantina, 155 West Kinzie in Chicago!

This will be a great night to meet SBAC and BNI members and guests, learn more about the groups, and make new business connections. Delicious appetizers and drinks will be served throughout the evening.

Tickets are $15 (includes 1 drink ticket and appetizers).

Purchase your ticket here.

Please note, we will be closing the payment link at 5pm the day before the event. If you have any questions, please contact Blanca at Blanca@sbacil.org.