Welcome Our New BOD Member!
Welcome Sherry Jursa! We’re happy to welcome Sherry Jursa from PNC‘s Business Banking wing to the Empower Board. Sherry holds an MBA from Northern Illinois University and a BA from North Central College in Political Science. With over 15 years’ experience in banking, Sherry is a proven professional who strives to provide excellence while meeting…
Small Business Mayoral Forum
SPONSORS Fifth Third Bank Saul Ewing Arnstein Lehr Inland Bank Interprenet Signature Bank Lexitas Korey Richardson Open One Solutions Byline DoorDash RockyTop Insperity SpeedPro Chicago Loop CVS
Legislation to Support Local Chambers Passes
Many chambers of commerce were devastated by the pandemic. However, this did not stop them from providing crucial support to local businesses. The SBAC is thrilled to report that Illinois politicians have provided 5 million dollars to support the recovery of chambers of commerce in Illinois. The SBAC has been working to procure this funding…
SBAC Empower’s 2023 Impact Report
Our Impact (Report) SBAC Empower had an incredible year in 2022. We are proud to report our impact in the SBAC Empower 2023 Impact Report. This report is a detailed collection of data from 2019 – 2022 carefully articulated to show the impact we are making in communities throughout Chicagoland. Check out some snippets below…
Ordinance Filed to Reduce Special Use Zoning Fees For Small Businesses
The Small Business Advocacy Council has been working with a strong coalition on efforts to revitalize neighborhood business districts in Chicago. As part of these efforts, we are advocating to reduce fees for small businesses that want to open in Chicago. We are thrilled to report that we have worked with Alderman David Moore to…
Coalition Engagement Sparks New Chicago Zoning Guide
Navigating the zoning rules in Chicago just became easier. The newly released Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) Chicago Business Zoning Guide will help small businesses and property owners more easily navigate the zoning process in Chicago. This was crucial as chambers of commerce and small business advocates advised that clear,…
NRC New Look, New Logo, Same Mission
New Look, New Logo, Same Mission In our 2nd year of actively and ardently working to revitalize neighborhoods throughout Chicago, we thought we’d bring a fresh new look to the incredible work that the SBAC and a robust group of chamber partners have spearheaded. We continue to advocate for policy reform to reduce vacancies, cut…
Hear From our NRC Coalition Partners
The Small Business Advocacy Council and a coalition of engaged stakeholders have come together to revitalize, empower, and connect commercial corridors in the Chicagoland area. This is a collaborative effort involving grassroots engagement, policy advocacy, and educational initiatives. Our coalition looks to address the vacant property crisis in Cook County, cut red tape that burdens…
SBAC Mentoring Program
We are thrilled that one of our very own Mentees is the recipient of such an award! We are so proud of you Walter Mendenhall IV and wish you continued success!! #sbacempower #smallbuisness #sbacempowermentoring #MaleMogul And check out Walter’s Linked In Post: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6999124047074648064 Learn more about the SBAC Empower Mentoring Program by clicking here. SPONSORS…
New SBAC Empower Educational Webinars
SBAC Empower strives to provide up to date resources to assist in your small business growth. We are proud to announce new Educational Webinars viewable at your leisure focused on helping small businesses open brick-and-mortar establishments in underserved communities. These webinars review programming that pertains to navigating the process of zoning, licensing, and leasing space…
The SBAC Heads to Springfield to Fight for the Small Business Community
The SBAC Heads to Springfield to Fight for the Small Business Community The Small Business Advocacy Council (SBAC) is heading to the capitol on Tuesday, November 15, 2022. We will be focused on procuring relief for local chambers of commerce devastated by the pandemic during the short legislative session this fall. It is imperative our…
SBAC 2022 Legislative Agenda
SBAC 2022 Legislative Agenda The Small Business Advocacy Council (SBAC) is laser-focused on formulating and fighting to pass policies that support small businesses and local communities. Learn more about our 2022 Legislative Agenda here: Legislative Agenda SPONSORS Fifth Third Bank Saul Ewing Arnstein Lehr Inland Bank Tandem HR Interprenet Signature Bank Lexitas Korey Richardson Open…
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