Stadelman: Still plenty of time and ways to celebrate Black Business Month

A series of events and initiatives to honor the contributions of Black-owned businesses across the state continues through the end of August, and State Senator Steve Stadelman is reminding people in the Rockford area to “Shop Black-owned Business Saturdays” and encouraging Black entrepreneuers to apply for COVID-relief grants through the recently announced “Back to Business” program.

While Illinois has over 132,000 Black-owned business, comprising 11 percent of all Illinois businesses, these business owners have historically experienced barriers in accessing capital and other key business resources.  As part of a monthlong celebration, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and several partner organizations are hosting a series of virtual events, exploring resources available to grow your business and navigate the impacts of the pandemic. All events are free to attend; more information and registration can be found on the DCEO website.

 

“Black Business Month is important because it offers us all the chance to focus on a community that is far too often underrepresented in terms of access to capital and opportunities to build wealth,” Stadelman said. “In celebrating Black Business Month, we acknowledge the role Black entrepreneurs in Illinois and across America play in our local economy and make a concerted effort to support that contribution.”

 

The state’s Black Business Month activities are presented by the DCEO, Office of Minority Economic Empowerment (OMEE). OMEE provides support to minority owned businesses of all sizes and types, including connection with grants, technical assistance and incentives to bolster minority entrepreneurs and minority-owned enterprises. The remaining virtual programs are:

 

• August 18th: Navigating the Pandemic: Resources to Help Black Businesses Survive and Thrive

DCEO will host a group of business leaders to discuss how to leverage funding and grant opportunities to get on the road to recovery from the pandemic. Attendees will learn about technical support offered through community navigators who are on the ground listening and responding to your needs. Click here to register.

 

• August 25th: Building Back Better: Charting Economic Recovery for the Black Business Community & Crafting the Roadmap for Access to Capital for Black Entrepreneurs

DCEO is teaming up with Groupon and community leaders to host a conversation with Acting DCEO Director Sylvia Garcia and leaders in business around access to capital and how they can foster an ecosystem of success. Also joining are Ron Busby, President of the US Black Chamber of Commerce; Don Thompson, Founder and CEO of Cleveland Avenue; Eva Brown, Segment Leader for U.S Bank; Don Cravins, COO of National Urban League; and Stephen Davis, Founder and Chairman of The Will Group. Click here to register.

 

Groupon is supporting the state's “Shop Black-owned Business Saturdays” by featuring Black-owned businesses on its platform. 

 

During the past year and a half, DCEO has made available more than $1 billion in economic assistance for businesses and communities. Nearly $300 million in grants to 9,000 businesses statewide has included a record 40 percent being extended to minority owned businesses.

 

To help address the sustained impacts of the pandemic on small and hard-hit business types, DCEO will again issue economic recovery dollars with the launch of the $250 million Back 2 Business programs. An online application process that promises to be faster and easier is set to open tomorrow, August 18.

 

OMEE Deputy Director Vaness Uribe led a Back 2 Business briefing for key stakeholders (below) this afternoon in downtown Rockford.
 

For more information on National Black History Month events planned for businesses, contact Matthew J. Simpson, the African American Business Development Manager, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Or for more general DCEO information, contact Lauren Huffman at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
 

 

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In case you missed me on Facebook ...

Steve Stadelman
August 15 at 10:40 PM 

A lot of fun and good conversations at the Boone County Fair this past week! Thank you to Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza for paying a visit (right with State Reps. Dave Vella and Maurice West).

Steve Stadelman
August 8 at 11:54 AM 

A new annual event at beautiful Anderson Japanese Gardens will help you cope with stress and help out veterans as well! Breathing for the Vets is a class on different breathing techniques which are a form of meditation. It's FREE but donations are accepted on behalf of Top of Illinois Veterans Stand Down which does great things for local vets. Thanks to Joe Harper for the invite. Craig Westland is the instructor.