Resources & Links
Cook County Board President Tony Preckwinkle launches fund to help small businesses. Click here to read the document.
Cook County Community Recovery Initiative. Click here to read the document
For more information Click here.
- Cicero Chamber of Commerce announces new Interim Board members
Cicero Chamber of Commerce announces new Interim Board members Town President Larry Dominick and the Town of Cicero Board of Trustees welcomed the members of the Cicero Chamber of Commerce Interim Board of Directors. The new Interim board is in formation and will be electing officers soon to oversee the programs and services to the Chambers more than 200 members. The Cicero Chamber of Commerce was relaunched in 2018 organizing many activities and seminars, but suspended activities in early 2020 because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The new board will soon announce their officers and begin organizing meetings for business owners from Cicero and licensed Cicero businesses. For more information visit the Chamber’s website at www.CiceroChamberofCommerce.com Here are the new Interim Board members. · Juan Del Real, All State Insurance · · Annette Ruele, Ziyad Brothers Importing. · · Miguel Garro, PNC/ AVP Branch Manager · · Antonio Grigorio-Sleivys, President, Santa Fe & Associates. · · Nivram Morelia Espinosa, Owner, Las Michoacanas Ice Cream Shop · · Sam Dahle. Liquor Store. · · Jim Baker, CBC board member & Oak Park Copiers · · Jose Luis Espinosa, US Auto Parts · · Andy Peña, El Campeon de las Piñas · · Edward Velasquez, Velasquez Automatic Music Company Attending the meeting supporting the new Interim board were Maru Ayala, Cicero Hispanic Liaison, Blanca Vargas, Cicero Hispanic Liaison, Cicero Clerk, Maria Punzo-Arias, Cicero Collector Emo Cundari, Trustees Larry Banks and Victor Garcia, Cicero Town Spokesman and interim Chamber coordinator Ray Hanania, members of th CIcero Business Committee Jeff Davis and Craig Pesek. Business Director Ismael Vargas was also present to support the new Chamber board. “We want to give the new Chamber leadership as much support as possible to restore this very important organization and to organize events, programs and serve as a conduit between the Town and the business community,” President Dominick said. “The Chamber is important to our community. We are proud of the many new businesses that have relocated to the Town of Cicero bringing many new jobs but we understand the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has created and the Chamber’s role is even more important today. We wish them good luck.” (Not pictured is Andy Peña, El Campeon de las Piñas Coladas.)
- State offers SBA Paycheck Protection online webinar
State offers SBA Paycheck Protection online webinar The Illinois District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Northeast Region of the Illinois and Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) are joining to present a webinar on the programs administered by SBA within the Economic Aid Act. Friday, February 19, 2021 1:00 pm Central Standard Time (Chicago, GMT-06:00) These programs will assist in invigorating the small businesses and community organizations affected by COVID-19; We invite you to attend. Click https://bit.ly/3jAAiQV
- Cook County COVID-19 Recovery Small Business Assistance Program to offer financial wellness webinar Jan. 27
Cook County COVID-19 Recovery Small Business Assistance Program to offer financial wellness webinar Jan. 27 The COVID-19 pandemic introduced uncertainty and fear to the lives of most small business owners around Cook County. To continue to support small businesses through this difficult time, Cook County’s COVID-19 Recovery Small Business Assistance Program is planning a finance-focused webinar, titled “It’s Your Turn: Time to Survive and Thrive – PPP and More”, for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27. All small business owners in Cook County are welcome to register for the free event at https://t2m.io/itsyourturnppp. The webinar will discuss the reopened Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loans and how small businesses can work with local lenders to secure assistance. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, representatives from Small Business Assistance Program partner organizations and small business owners who have received assistance from the program in the past — like Luz Cavazos, owner of Juicy Luzy Sangria — will speak during the event. Attendees will also have the opportunity to join small group discussions. “Getting that email was a blessing,” Cavazos said of finding out about the Small Business Assistance Program. “I’m grateful for the grant we got, because if we wouldn’t have gotten it… it was literally just making it, not knowing how long you had.” The County also invites small businesses to sign up for the Cook County – Chicago Business Advising Program, also known as technical assistance, which provides individualized assistance to business owners to help them address needs; acquire new capital and customers; understand finances, as well as change and risk management; adjust business models; and operate under changing safety regulations. This assistance is provided by program partners like Accion, Chicago Urban League, Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Women’s Business Development Center, Berwyn Development Corporation, Chicago TREND, Cook County Black Chamber Corporation and Southland Development Authority. ABOUT THE COOK COUNTY COVID-19 RECOVERY SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: The Cook County COVID-19 Recovery Small Business Assistance Program provides support for small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program offers advising for small businesses in Cook County and grants for small businesses in suburban Cook County and the unincorporated areas. For more information about the program, visit https://t2m.io/CookCountySBassist.
- Cook County Offers programs for businesses
Cook County Offers programs for businesses Bureau of Economic Development December 16, 2020 Are you a restaurant or bar employee? Register for our Webinar: Support and Assistance for Restaurant & Bar Workers Join us for a webinar on Thursday, 12/17 at 10:00 (CST) to learn more about: How to apply for relief Information about other organizations and assistance programs helping the food and beverage industry Introductory remarks will be provided by Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer, Tenth District. Hear from panelists from the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, the Southern Smoke Foundation, and the West Suburban Cook County American Job Center. This webinar is being produced in partnership with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and the Cook County Community Recovery Initiative. Register here for the webinar! Cook County Community Recovery Initiative Looking for a Job during the Pandemic? The Cook County COVID-19 Recovery Job Training and Placement Program, in partnership with the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, can help you get back to work and find new careers. Apply by clicking the button below or call them at 1-800-720-2515. Go here to apply! Are You Behind on Bills? Apply for Utility Assistance before Winter Arrives! Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, Inc. (CEDA) has programs to assist eligible residents with paying utility bills. If you or someone you love are in need of support, you can access programs to pay for your utility bills with our partners at CEDA. Call them at (800) 571-2332. They offer support through the following programs and online applications. The programs currently open are: Gas & Electric Furnace Repair & Replacement Water Assistance Dealing with Eviction or Unresolved Debt? Are you behind on your mortgage or property tax payments? Do you live in Cook County? You are not in this alone. You may be eligible for FREE legal help from the Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt Program. Call 855-956-5763 Go here to apply for help. In Case You Missed It Illinois has released new rules in order to combat the spread of COVID-19. Learn more about Restore Illinois – Tier 3 Resurgence Mitigations. Bureau of Economic Development 69 W Washington, Suite 2900 | Chicago, IL 60602 | Phone: (312) 603-1000 Mission – The Bureau of Economic Development’s mission is to lead and promote equitable economic growth and community development. Values Equity. Engagement. Excellence. Learn more about Vital Communities, our strategic plan for economic development, with the Policy Roadmap: Five-Year Strategic Plan for Offices Under the President.
- Chamber launches new Business Spotlight Program with Profile on Bimbo Bakeries
Chamber launches new Spotlight on Cicero Businesses Program with Profile on Bimbo Bakeries The Cicero Chamber of Commerce and Town President Larry Dominick and the Town of Cicero board of trustees have partnered to launch a new program to help put the spotlight on the successful practices of local businesses that are successfully coping with the coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic. (View the video interview below) Called “Spotlight on Cicero Businesses,” the program features regular Zoom Video interviews with selected Cicero based companies and discusses the challenges they have faced in the pandemic and how they have addressed those challenges. Representatives from each company will discuss their Best Practices they employ to ensure a safe and healthy environment for the product, customers and employees. The first interview was conducted this past week with Moises Chavez, the Plant Manager for Bimbo Bakeries’ Cicero location at 1540 S. 54th Avenue. Bimbo Bakery has 60 locations in the United States, two in the Chicagoland region and 200 around the World. Bimbo Bakeries employs 400 individuals at the Cicero location and is planning to expand their production there and hire 40 more employees in the next few months. The Cicero location produces more than 2 million units of product each week that include Entenmann’s, Bimbo, and Marinela products . Bimbo Bakeries produces food products under 21 total brands that include Thomas, Sara Lee, Beefsteak and Boboli to name only a few. “Bimbo is celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year and I am very proud to be working with them,” Chavez said during the 30 minute interview. Click here to visit Bimbo Bakeries website. Click here to view the video interview online or use the widget below. If you would like to have your business spotlighted, please email Ray Hanania at the Town of Cicero at rhanania@thetownofcicero.com.
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