Better together: How two Source clients teamed up for success
Juan Carlos Hernandez is a meticulous, creative business owner. He had run his fine-art printing business, Print Innovation Lab, out of his home in west suburban Oak Park for about seven years. His business had outgrown his space, but did he really need to open a brick-and-mortar location? Would it be cost efficient? The questions […]
Applications open for 2025 Source Referral Partners
The Cook County Small Business Source invites new and renewing nonprofit organizations to apply to serve as a 2025 Referral Partner and strengthen our network to support small businesses. Since 2020, the Cook County Small Business Source has provided no-cost business advising, resources, events/webinars and grants to more than 28,000 small businesses throughout Cook County. […]
Rebuilding after tragedy: How a party shop is thriving thanks to the Rogers Park Business Alliance
Reyna Gonzalez made a life-changing decision five years ago. She left her desk job in the corporate world, and she bought a store, Dulceria La Fiesta Inc., in the Rogers Park neighborhood on the North Side of Chicago. Then, disaster struck. “When we bought the business, the store burned 20 days into the business,” Reyna […]
Source announces two new BSOs
The Cook County Small Business Source is proud to announce the addition of two Business Support Organizations (BSOs). Builders Avenue and the Chinese Mutual Aid Association, both based in Chicago, have joined the BSO network, bringing the total number of BSOs to 13. All BSOs work to provide no-cost advising to small businesses throughout […]
Little Munchkins: A small corner store with big plans
Little Munchkins Produce, a small, family-owned grocery store in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on Chicago’s Southwest Side, is a classic neighborhood corner store. Teresa Flores, the owner of this bustling shop, runs her small business with the support of her husband, Gilberto, and children, Christopher and Mayte. Little Munchkins has been in operation […]
Introducing Cook County Solar Synergy, designed to help businesses enter the solar-installation market
Is your business ready to enter the solar-installation market? The Source is here to help. Cook County Government recently launched Cook County Solar Synergy, a program that connects small businesses with The Source–and all the resources they need to take on solar-installation jobs. Builders Avenue, a new Business Support Organization (BSO) with The Source, will […]
Important 2024 Source Grant Notification: 1099 Tax Form Correction
On January 25, 2025, the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC), the grant administrator for the 2023 Cook County Source Grant, mailed you an IRS Form 1099-NEC. The purpose of this form was to provide you with the information necessary to report the grant income on your 2024 taxes. The 1099-NEC form which you received […]
Get Ahead of 2025: Essential Tax Prep Tips for Small Business Owners
The new year is here, and it’s time to turn your attention to one of the most critical aspects of running a successful business: taxes. While the April filing deadline may still seem far off, getting a head start can save you from last-minute stress and position your business to take advantage of future financial […]
How your local convention and visitors bureau can elevate your business
In 2023 more than 112 million visitors came to Illinois alone, bringing in roughly $47 billion in spending and adding $4.6 billion in state and local taxes. In Cook County, 9.8% of employment was in the hospitality and tourism industry, a figure projected to grow by 3% by 2027. So, can small businesses tap into […]
A glow-up from the ground up: How one entrepreneur opened ‘the glam headquarters of Berwyn’
Laura Santoyo likes to call her colorful cosmetics shop, Date Nite Beaute, “the glam headquarters of Berwyn.” She built the business from the ground up four years ago and is eyeing even more growth in the coming years. Her warm, inviting storefront represents her dreams becoming reality after she came to a crossroads while working […]
