2023 Source Grant honored with national award
The Cook County Small Business Source is proud to announce that the 2023 Source Grant was recently honored with a 2024 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award after providing funding for thousands of businesses throughout the county.
Empowering women on the go: Ms. Jetsetter
This July, we connected with local Chicago entrepreneur Tracey McGhee, founder of Ms. Jetsetter, a travel accessories company for busy women on the go. Read ahead to learn about Tracey’s journey opening her business and receiving support from the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council (CMSDC) to ensure its success!
Beautiful Beginnings: A dream aided by business advising through The Source
Meet Louise Williams, owner of Beautiful Beginnings Daycare, an at-home daycare that’s been operating in the Chicagoland area for 10 years. A skilled caretaker who often goes above and beyond for her clients and their children, Louise offers 24-hour daycare, food for children facing food insecurity, transportation for parents who can’t afford it, and more.
Applications open for Source Referral Partners
The Cook County Small Business Source invites new and renewing non-profit organizations to apply to serve as a 2024 Referral Partner and strengthen our network to support small businesses. We seek partners to serve in the following roles with funding allocations based on the role selected. The grants will support work during the period of […]
A home away from home: Finding community and entrepreneurial support with The Source
Eight years ago, Angel Emmanuel Alcantar launched his business, Frida Room, a restaurant showcasing the vibrant colors and traditional flavors of his hometown of Mexico City. In his words, the Chicago restaurant “uniquely showcases the flavors he grew up with,” with dishes inspired by recipes passed down to him from his grandmother. With Frida Room, Angel carefully curated each detail, even designing the restaurant’s interior himself, capturing the lively decor and culture of Mexico City.
Women in the arena: Small business owner Ari Krzyzek shares her expert marketing tips with The Source
Meet Ari Krzyzek, CEO and Head of Strategy at Chykalophia (see-ka-lo-fia), a woman minority-owned web agency helping femtech direct-to-consumer (DTC) & women-led brands transform their website to unlock business opportunities. This month, we connected with Ari, a recent 2023 Source Grant Awardee, to chat about her business journey and the importance of marketing for small […]
The 2023 Source Grant program: $50 million distributed to 3,000 small businesses
In 2023, Cook County launched a $50 million grant program as an investment in small businesses to help stabilize their operations, foster recovery and resiliency, and advance equity in the post-pandemic economy. Cook County established this program because of the central role small businesses play in the local economy as community anchors, a source of […]
A new way to grow: How one Cook County small business owner embraced business advising and leveraged a procurement success
For Letitia Clark, owner of the Calumet City medical supply company A New Way To Go, advancing access to medical equipment and supplies represents a life-long passion. Having learned the importance of equitable access to healthcare at her first job with the Cook County Health and Hospital System (CHHS), Letitia remains committed to improving access […]
Offering Fresh Food Dining in the Southland: Pink Panini and the Entrepreneurial Journey
Meet Latrice Wright, owner of Pink Panini, a restaurant in Hazel Crest, IL that provides the Southland community with fresh soups, sandwiches, salads, and much more. After 16 years of service at the Chicago Housing Authority, Latrice learned firsthand how hard it could be to fit a healthy lunch into a packed schedule. Because of […]
Illinois Back to Business New Business (B2B NewBiz) Grant
The State of Illinois has launched the Illinois Back to Business New Business Grant Program (B2B NewBiz), a grant program that will provide financial relief to businesses in the industries most impacted by the pandemic. The state has allocated $25 million in grant funding to support businesses in hard-hit sectors that started operations between January […]
