MD

The Illinois Coalition for Health Access is a coalition of funded and non-funded assister organizations, government partners, community based organizations, and health care entities. The consortium presently represents 55 organizations servicing the wider Chicagoland and Chicago suburbs. The charge of the consortium is to: coordinates enrollment, events, and partnerships around the ACA; foster healthcare driven partnerships around the ACA; advocate for enrollment and ACA needed reforms and improvements for our consumers; create a professional workforce of assisters.

The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Chicago empowers business owners to thrive through connection, resources and support. You will connect to decision-makers and build meaningful relationships, have access to business and procurement opportunities, and advance through collaboration, knowledge and best practices. 

NAWBO Chicago propels women entrepreneurs into economic, social, and political spheres of power. 

The Jules F. Knapp Entrepreneurship Center, a Small Business Opportunity Center for the City of Chicago, offers a wide variety of supportive services for start-up and existing small businesses located in and around the Illinois Institute of Technology as well as the greater Chicago area.

The Duman Entrepreneurship Center Loan Fund makes loans up to $15,000 to businesses who can demonstrate that the loan will help grow the business. These are 3-year term loans, with very low-interest rates and no penalty for early repayment. There is a low loan application fee and closing cost. The owners must personally guarantee the loan and the owners credit history will be reviewed.

Sunshine Enterprises exists to help cultivate flourishing communities through empowering local entrepreneurs to grow their businesses, build sustainable lives for their families, and create new pathways to long-term economic self-sufficiency. We do this through providing training, coaching, and resources for business management and development.

The Resurrection Project’s mission is to build relationships and challenge individuals to act on their faith and values by creating community ownership, building community wealth, and serving as stewards of community assets.

The Center for Economic Progress (CEP) helps low-income, working families as a trusted provider of tax and financial services. Everything we do, from direct service to informing public policy, improves the financial stability of those we serve. 

CEP provides low-wage workers with free, high quality tax preparation and an alternative to paid tax preparers. We serve families who make less than $50,000 and individuals who make less than $25,000.  Based on these income guidelines, we can help one in three Illinois residents. 

The 35 Illinois Small Business Development Centers provide businesses with management, marketing and financial guidance to help them succeed. The SBDCs assist with strategic business planning, access to capital and the development of marketing plans, along with helping to improve business ownership skills. The Centers provide financial analysis assistance and access to specialized services including export expansion and government contracting assistance plus other business management services.