Will County Center for Economic Development
116 N. Chicago St.- Suite 101 - Joliet, IL 60432
tel: 815/723-1800 fax: 815/723-6972
info@willcountyced.com

Small Business Assistance

Where can I go for help?

http://www.business.illinois.gov/illinois_offer.cfm 

BusinessUSA is One-Stop Government Business Assistance - It is the first fully-integrated federal government website designed for America’s small businesses and exporters. Equip your business with the best tools and information available to support job growth, innovation and America’s competitiveness.
www.business.usa.gov

State Small Business Credit Initiative  

A component of the Small Business Jobs Act President Obama signed into law.
http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sb-programs/Pages/ssbci.aspx

Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit  

Welcome to the Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit Registration Web site.

The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Illinois and must be nurtured. That's why I proposed and worked with the Illinois General Assembly to pass the Illinois Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit. The tax credit gives small business owners an extra boost to grow their business over the next year. After creating one or more new, full-time positions that meet the eligibility requirements, small businesses can register here to receive a $2,500 per job tax credit.

http://jobstaxcredit.illinois.gov/ 

Illinois Small Business Development Center   (1-500 employees)
The SBDC's are an interconnected network and you are welcome to seek assistance from any location
 

   - The Weekly Connection : Resources for Small Business
        SBDC Weekly Connection - 3-19-12               SBDC Weekly Connection 4-16-12       
        
SBDC Weekly Connection - 3-26-12               SBDC Weekly Connection 4-30-12
        SBDC Weekly Connection - 4-9-12                 SBDC Weekly Connection - 5-7-12  

   - Joliet Junior College 

The Small Business Development Center mission is to provide free management assistance and advice to aid emerging and existing small businesses as they develop.                         
Services include:   Consulting - planning, marketing, financing, start-up questions, applying for Minority 
                                                and Women-owned Business status
                            Referrals -   connecting entrepreneurs with specialists in import/export, government contracts,
                                                 applying for patents, insurance, human resources, other specialized areas
                            Specialized Counseling - free counseling (one-on-one) in social media, web design, accounting, 
                                                Quickbooks, and more
                            Training - Cloud computing, engagement marketing, public relations, and many other areas

Small Business Development Center                Brochure                  April-Aug 2012 Schedule

Corporate & Community Services is your one-stop provider of training, offering an array of solutions that will enhance your performance--regardless of your industry--and generate real results. 

Business & Training

Workforce Development at Joliet Junior College is committed to encouraging local economic development by cultivating partnerships to provide comprehensive services to the Will and Grundy County workforce.

Workforce Development

Community Education designs, develops and implements a wide array of non-credit classes that enrich the lives of all ages, including youth and mature adults. Program Coordinators collaborate with area businesses and instructors to ensure the delivery of innovative programming as well as traditional classes and lectures.

Community Education

   - CenterPoint at Governors State University (big help for small business)…  

Create an environment that nurtures entrepreneurship throughout the region: to develop, finance, grow and improve the business community through high quality professional services and training and developing public and private partnerships to support all aspects of entrepreneurial development.

www.centerpointgsu.com                        Brochure

Available Resources (including financial)

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Workforce Investment Board of Will County (WIB) 

The Workforce Investment Board of Will County brings together a myriad of employment, training, and educational services, transforming them into a comprehensive and easily accessed system that supports the development of a world-class workforce.  The Board builds the workforce system to develop quality employees for employers and to develop quality opportunities for employees.  This system makes it easy for business to make connections with a qualified pool of applicants and to access other workforce development services.  This system is also intended to make it easy for people to learn about and access a broad range of employment, education, and related services.

www.willcountyworkforceboard.com

Employer Resource Guide

Reports and Updates

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US & IL Small Business Administration (SBA) 

The SBA offers educational, financial and training programs, advisory services, and publications free or at a nominal fee. The agency also offers specialized programs for women business owners, minorities, veterans, international trade and rural development.

Illinois SBA District Office

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Illinois Entrepreneurship Network (IEN)

The Illinois Entrepreneurship Network (IEN) is made up of Entrepreneurship Centers, Small Business Development Centers, Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, International Trade / NAFTA Centers, Small Business Environmental Assistance Program, Small Business Incubators, the Office of Minority Business Development and the Office of Women's Business Development. Training courses and free one-on-one counseling are offered through IEN.

Illinois Entrepreneurship Network

IEN Resources

IEN Business Information Center

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Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)


Counselors to America’s Small Business

SCORE and the SBA conduct seminars throughout Illinois on starting and running a business, as well as provide individual counseling.

www.score.org

www.score.org/how_score_works.html

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Business and Industry Data Centers (BIDC)


BIDC affiliates use census information and other economic and demographic data to help small business owners plan, manage and expand their businesses. Demographic information that is available includes the population, including age, race, and sex, income and the labor force in a given area. Accessible economic information includes the number and kinds of businesses, employment, payroll and sales information.

http://www.ildceo.net/dceo/Bureaus/Facts_Figures/Illinois_Census_Data/

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Illinois Finance Authority -- IFA 

The Illinois Finance Authority (IFA) is a self-financed, state authority principally engaged in issuing taxable and tax-exempt bonds, making loans, and investing capital for businesses, non-profit corporations, and local government units statewide.

www.il-fa.com