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 […]
Check Your Certificate of Good Standing Status Today!
Make sure your business is in good standing with the State of Illinois. Your business may need to get a copy of your certificate to: Open a business bank account Apply for a business loan Seek investments from investors Purchase small business insurance Register to do business in another state Keep a current status of […]
From “Corrections to Confections”: How One Small Business Owner Utilized The Source to Pursue Her Passion
When Lisa Marsh (second to left) retired from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, she decided it was time to further pursue her personal passion of creating allergen free foods. Named in honor of her mother, Lisa launched MsPsGFree, a gluten free snack company, despite having no prior experience running a food-based business. “I came into […]
The 2023 Source Grant Launch
The launch of The 2023 Source Grant brought together many of our community partners and small businesses. The press event on July 19 featured President Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison, grant administrators Women’s Business Development Center and Allies for Community Businesses, the Bureau of Economic Development and the Office of Veteran Affairs and […]
The Source Honored with a National Association of Counties Award
Did you know that The Source’s work in assisting 10,000 businesses has led to its recognition as a national model for small business assistance? Since its inception, The Source has assisted small businesses by providing no cost business advising, a library of resources, events, training and access to capital opportunities. Congratulations to The Source for […]
