BSO Partnerships

Greenwood Archer Capital and Business Services Collective launched EMPOWER to create an equitable small business ecosystem for entrepreneurs in the construction sector by providing back-office support services and equitable access to business capital and development projects.

The UChicago Office of Civic Engagement is working with economic development partners to provide South Side entrepreneurs of color access to resources, MBA students from the UChicago Booth School of Business, and project-based support to address financial gaps.

FoodLab Chicago 4.0 is a collaboration between the Greater Chatham Initiative and other South Side organizations to plan and implement a fourth cohort of the FoodLab Chicago program, which supports Black-owned restaurants to build a more equitable and sustainable food system in Chicago.

Women’s Business Development Center and other partners are overseeing Expanding Minority Business Access – Year Three, which works with BSOs to broaden their knowledge of private and public sector contracting so they can give minority business owners access to new markets, more capital, and additional contracting opportunities.

Elevate Energy, Business Services Collective, and Sustainable Options for Urban Living formed the Lightbulb team to expand the opportunity for construction businesses to participate in the growing clean energy economy by giving contractors services such as bookkeeping and project management support.

In partnership with the Chicago Inventors Organization and Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Southwest Development Corporation is uplifting South and Southwest Side entrepreneurs of color via Basic Financials for Business. The program teaches and supports business owners to fiscally manage their businesses and create successful strategies that support sustainability in the community.

The Bronzeville Culinary Connection, an initiative by the Urban Juncture Foundation and a coalition of partners, identifies and nurtures Black culinary professionals by expanding the culinary infrastructure in the Bronzeville neighborhood, providing access to culinary equipment, and advising entrepreneurs on ways to develop their culinary enterprise.

Sunshine Enterprises and a team of organizations created the South Shore Artisans program to prepare two cohorts of artists and artisans to operate in a retail space by assisting them with business acceleration coaching, access to capital, and technical assistance.

The Xquina Entrepreneurial Ecosystem is a partnership between the Foundation of Little Village and other BSOs to build community wealth in Little Village by equipping local entrepreneurs with culturally relevant Spanish-language training, mentorship, tools, and capital support to help expand their businesses.

New Covenant Community Development and Sunshine Enterprises formed the Financial Dashboard course, a cohort-based, eight-session course in business financial training and coaching for small business owners in Chicago, particularly in the North Lawndale neighborhood.

The Southland Development Authority manages three small business support programs, Entrepreneur in Residence, Connect 2 Capital, and Business Growth Services, as part of its Supporting Southland Small Businesses initiative to support Black and Latinx entrepreneurs by offering direct technical assistance and expanding their access to equity capital and debt capital.

Northwest Side CDC, Onward House, and Women’s Business Development Center are working together to provide small businesses in the Belmont Cragin community with access to educational programs and tools to help them establish and grow their use of technology.

Small Business Majority, Rogers Park Business Alliance, and New Covenant Community Development Center are collaborating to bolster access to capital and financial management education for Chicago’s entrepreneurs of color, particularly Black women operating on the North and West sides.

Urban Growers Collective is working with project partners to meet the needs of emerging growers interested in starting a farm business by offering the Grower Apprenticeship Program, a three-year curriculum focusing on farm business management.