THE BACP SMALL BUSINESS E-EXPO |
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Thursday, July 22, 2021 | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Register now for BACP’s first Remote Expo of 2021! This year’s expos will be better than ever, with the return of over 30 exhibitors offering 1:1 business guidance. The interactive expo will also feature a variety of webinars, panels, and a keynote speaker that will help people in all stages of their entrepreneurial journey.
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CHICAGOLAND VACCINE PARTNERSHIP GRANT |
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The Chicagoland Vaccine Partnership is excited to announce at least $1,000,000 in new, open grant funds to support ongoing community mobilization efforts around the COVID-19 vaccine.
They’re accepting grant proposals from organizations that demonstrate deep community relationships in the geographic areas most impacted by COVID-19. These vaccine outreach grants are meant to be flexible so they can support whatever activities you believe will be most effective in reaching the communities you serve.
Dedicated funding is available for Chicago-specific projects focused on supporting vaccine education and access for (a) employees within early childhood, K-12, and postsecondary education organizations within Chicago and (b) children and youth, including college students, within Chicago.
Individual organizations can apply for up to $25,000 in grant funding, and multiple collaborating organizations can apply for up to $75,000. Grants for individual organizations are designed to support organizations with annual operating budgets up to $500,000.
Key Dates:
- Monday, July 26 – Application closes at 5:00 pm
- Week of August 9 – Notification of grant awards/recipients
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VIRTUAL OUTREACH AND EVENTS |
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DPS participates in many outreach events around the Chicagoland area. Check out the upcoming events happening soon. For a full calendar of events, please visit www.chicago.gov/dpsevents
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Joint -Chamber Networking Breakfast
July 20, 2021 | 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
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Featured Speakers:
State Rep. Will Guzzardi (39th District)
State Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas (20th District)
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Challenges in Developing Successful Business Teams & Partnerships Partnering With Purpose Series
Session 2
July 20, 2021 | 10:00 AM - 11:45 PM
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The Partnering With Purpose Three-Part Series will focus on partnering and teaming as an intentional business strategy. The purpose of the series is to help bring awareness and elevate teaming approaches and skills to our women-owned businesses. The series is designed to address how a successful partnering strategy can expand capabilities, capacity, and add value to your existing and potential customers to meet their sourcing needs.
This session will focus on challenges and risk mitigation, offer legal insights into teaming approaches and agreements and locating good partners or team members.
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Business & Employment Law Risk Mitigation
July 22, 2021 | 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
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Learn about Business & Employment Law Risk Mitigation. Topics discussed will include:
Covid-19 Updates, updates to the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA), The Illinois Equal Pay Act, minimum wage increases, and Workplace Transparency Act
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GovCon Airports Cohort
July 23, 2021 | Application Deadline
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LOOKING TO SUCCEED AS AN AIRPORT VENDOR?
The Illinois Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) at the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC), in partnership with the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), is pleased to present GovCon Airports. This 8-week virtual training program will serve small businesses and concessionaires who currently have contracts at Chicago’s airports, and businesses seeking to do business with the airports.
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Grow Your Business: The Government and Abroad
July 26, 2021 | 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
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Training Topics: Business Plan, Exporting, Government Contracting, Selling to Government
This webinar will explore possible avenues to consider when looking to grow your business and customer base. While both government contracting and international trade may seem intimidating for both smaller to medium-sized companies, it doesn’t have to be. The Illinois International Trade Center (ITC) and Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) are here to help you navigate this process and be a resource for your business. Learn more about how to get started today!
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LGBTBE: Now What?
July 29, 2021 | 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
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Are you a recently certified LGBT Business Enterprise or just want to refresh some of the ways you do business as a diverse supplier with corporate companies? If yes, join the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois for our LGBTBE: Now What? workshop. In this workshop, we will hear perspectives from corporate companies and LGBTBE suppliers as they share best practices and reflect on their own experiences. |
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THE ABC’S OF DBE AND ACDBE CERTIFICATION
July 21, 2021 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
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This workshop provides an overview of the City’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) programs. Come learn about the application process and benefits of certification as part of the Illinois Unified Certification process with the City of Chicago, Illinois Department of Transportation, Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, and Pace. |
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INTRODUCTION TO ePROCUREMENT 101
July 22, 2021 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
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DPS is continuing on the next phase of start-to-finish purchasing modernization via the implementation of a comprehensive eProcurement system. eProcurement applies digital technology to the acquisition of goods and services. It will allow DPS to collaborate with City Departments to create solicitations and contracts online, greatly reducing the time it takes to complete procurements. Come watch a demonstration and learn about iSupplier registration, how vendors will submit bids and proposals online, and how to view contracts and payments. |
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HOW TO NAVIGATE THE DPS WEBSITE
July 28, 2021 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
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The DPS website is the best place to find a wealth of resources relating to City procurement. Recently, the City of Chicago has refreshed the look of each department website and some things have changed. This workshop will take you through the new look and feel of the website as well as all the resources that are available and how to find them. Learn how to: locate upcoming opportunities, bid tabulations, information about awarded contracts, how to identify primes and Chicago certified subcontractors, City auctions, upcoming outreach events and how to stay informed of all the latest news and updates. |
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THE ONLINE SCHEDULE A APPLICATION – MBE/WBE/VBE/BEPD
July 29, 2021 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
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As of January 1, 2016, DPS no longer accepts paper applications for M/W/VBE certification. This workshop will give a hands-on experience filling out the online MBE/WBE/VBE/BEPD Schedule A application. During this training, you will learn where to find the online application, what documents are needed, and how to upload the documents. Be prepared to work on your application with the assistance of a subject matter expert.
NOTE: Please bring your username and password for the Certification & Compliance System (C2) and business Tax ID number with you to class.
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THE SMALL BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT FUND (SBIF) |
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Eligible businesses must submit their application during the month-long application window for their TIF district to qualify for funding. To find out if and when SBIF grants are available for your business, search the address on the SBIF eligibility page. Other eligibility requirements apply, and application dates are subject to change.
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WEEKLY BID OPPORTUNITY LIST |
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Bid Opportunity List for the Week of July 19, 2021 |
The weekly Bid Opportunity List (BOL) is the resource to find currently advertised contracting opportunities with the City of Chicago. The information on the BOL is subject to change.
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Please be advised that all contracts awarded on March 10, 2021 and beyond will include Terms related to compliance with Executive Order 2021-2. These terms include quarterly reporting requirements for the projected and actual utilization of M/WBE firms. |
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RESOURCES FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY |
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Resource Navigators
The City of Chicago has established Small Business Resource Navigators to provide 1:1 assistance to small businesses looking for support. For more information, click here.
Information on Chicago Reopening Guidelines
Mayor Lightfoot recently released industry-specific guidelines for businesses, employees, and customers to follow as the city prepares to begin safely reopening. Industry-specific guidelines include details such as how businesses can engage in healthy interactions between workers and customers, how to maintain safe working spaces and conditions, and how to design and monitor workplace operations to create flexibility and maintain safety for employees and customers. Guidelines can be found at www.chicago.gov/reopening.
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DPS believes that everyone should have a chance to participate in the business of government. This includes participation by way of bidding on a contract, being a supplier, becoming a certified vendor, or even learning about how to do business with the City.
Our DPS website provides information to keep our vendor community informed of procurement news, outreach, initiative and programs. Visit www.chicago.gov/dps to learn about the following:
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DEPARTMENT OF PROCUREMENT SERVICES | www.chicago.gov/dps |
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