Our mission
The Cook County Small Business Source is an award winning program that strives to support, grow and elevate small businesses, the backbone of Cook County’s economy. This program directly connects small business owners with expert guidance and the resources they need to take their businesses to the next level.
We do this by offering
Business advising
The Source provides no-cost, one-on-one business advising from members of our trusted network of Business Support Organizations (BSOs). Through a simple intake form, The Source matches business owners with a dedicated business advisor who provides in-depth knowledge and the necessary support to take your business to the next level.
Informative events
Events connect small business owners with a community of advisors who provide in depth knowledge on topics important to small businesses.
Valuable resources
A resource library and a network of over 30 partners are available to help grow and scale small businesses.
Our network
The Cook County Small Business Source convenes a group of leading Business Support Organizations (BSOs) to provide direct support to the Cook County small business community. By partnering with trusted organizations, the Source connects small business owners with the expertise they need to succeed.
To learn more about our BSO partners, click on the tiles below. Ready to work with our network of BSOs? Learn more about no-cost business advising and sign up today!
Uriel Mendez and Michael Mendez of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce with Diane McDonald of the Chicago Urban League
Business Support Organizations
36Squared Business Incubator
36Squared specializes in working with manufacturing businesses and offers numerous support streams for women- and minority-owned businesses, business owners with disabilities, and Spanish speaking business owners.
Allies for Community Business
A4CB is an accredited CDFI and U.S. Small Business Administration lender that strengthens small businesses by providing the capital, coaching, and connections entrepreneurs need to grow great businesses.
Berwyn Development Corporation
30 years of operation in Berwyn have provided the BDC with unique insights into the small business ecosystem in Berwyn and its surrounding areas, helping local makers, entrepreneurs, and artisans take advantage of the big city opportunities that Berwyn has to offer.
Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council
The ChicagoMSDC offers one-on-one support for small business owners seeking MBE certifications, corporate and government contracting, as well as those seeking to learn about financial processes, HR strategies, AI and virtual helpers, among other subjects.
Chicago Urban League
The CUL provides Black entrepreneurs the tools necessary to launch, grow, and sustain businesses. CUL helps businesses obtain supplier diversity certifications, respond to bids on public and private contracts, and increase the number and average dollar value of contracts won.
Greater Southwest Development Corporation
The GSDC works to create, attract, retain, and expand commercial and manufacturing businesses on Chicago’s Southwest Side, offering businesses development services that include access to capital, business and marketing plan assistance, international trade, procurement, certifications, and licensing.
Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
The IHCC equips businesses to be competitive in today’s economy by providing economic development and entrepreneurial educational programs that enhance business practices and increase the success of Hispanic entrepreneurs.
Illinois Restaurant Association
The IRA works to provide restaurant operators and suppliers in Illinois with valuable business services, networking opportunities, cost saving programs, and vital advocacy, to serve the needs of the restaurant industry and support its future.
Rogers Park Business Alliance
The RPBA strengthens and revitalizes the businesses in Rogers Park and the Chicagoland area, and builds a strong, diverse business community, by providing bilingual entrepreneurial support, webinars, training, and advocacy for small business owners.
Southland Development Authority
The SDA provides expertise and capacity building to develop small businesses and enable the south suburbs and its businesses, especially its manufacturers, to lead in the new economy.
Women’s Business Development Center
The WBDC supports and accelerates business development and growth, connecting women and all diverse business owners to the coaching, contracts, and capital they need, in order to strengthen their participation in, and impact on, the economy.
Our story
In 2020, government, foundations, and community partners joined together to serve Cook County’s small business community in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This partnership provided the basis for the establishment of The Small Business Assistance Program, which is now part of The Source.
The Chicago Community Trust and the Fund for Equitable Business Growth, with funding provided by Polk Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, McCormick Foundation and JPMorgan Chase, Cook County, and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity were Founding Funders and Partners of the Cook County Small Business Source, providing support for recovery grants to small business owners and entrepreneurs facing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, Cook County funds the overwhelming majority of grants and services related to the Cook County Small Business Source with support from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). In addition, the program receives support from the State of Illinois Community Navigator Program, We Rise Together, and the Fund for Equitable Growth.
In 2022, the County reinvigorated the Covid born program with a historic $37 million investment, leading to a rebranding and the creation of The Source as it exists today. To read more about this historic investment reference the press release below.