IL

The Agenda for Illinois’ Entrepreneurs

Small Business Majority’s Illinois policy agenda outlines policies that advance and promote equitable pathways for entrepreneurship while centering small businesses as the key to a thriving and inclusive economy. The state’s 1.3 million small businesses employ 2.4 million people (about 44.1% of the private workforce), with firms without employees making up 80% of all owned businesses.  Illinois small business owners are navigating workforce shortages, a childcare crisis and the end of a number of pandemic era programs that support entrepreneurship.

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Submitted by Small Business Majority on Fri, 02/24/2023 - 09:19

Illinois small businesses support expanding occupational licensing for justice-impacted individuals

Publisher: 
Small Business Majority
English
Date: 
Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Small Business Majority’s new poll of Illinois small business owners reveals strong support for legislative solutions that would remove barriers for justice-impacted individuals by making reforms to occupational licensing and debt-based driver’s license suspensions. These politically diverse small business owners believe these measures would enable employers to tap into an underutilized workforce and open up opportunities for entrepreneurship.

Small businesses support expanding occupational licensing for justice-impacted individuals

Publisher: 
Small Business Majority
English
Date: 
Wednesday, April 3, 2024

While small businesses employ nearly half (46.4%) of the private workforce in the United States, many are struggling to hire and retain a ready workforce. Our poll of Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas small business owners reveals strong support for legislative solutions that would remove barriers for justice-impacted individuals by making reforms to occupational licensing and debt-based driver’s license suspensions. These politically diverse small business owners believe these measures would enable employers to tap into an underutilized workforce and open up opportunities for entrepreneurship.

Nancy Maxwell

Nancy Maxwell has been a member of the Southern Illinois Community for over twenty years. Nancy has proven herself to be a fierce advocate for our community. She has over 15 years of leadership and supervisory experience. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of Carbondale United, a Social Service Nonprofit Organization building programs for parents and children that provide much needed systemic change for Carbondale residents. She is the Vice President of The Black Chamber of Commerce, Owner and Operator of Print’s R Us.

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Submitted by sbm-admin on Tue, 10/10/2023 - 10:45

Chastity Mays

Chastity Mays is a Certified Birth Doula and owner of Hathor Doula Services.  She has served clients in Southern Illinois, the Missouri Bootheel area, and Paducah, Kentucky.  She stands with and advocates for families who are underrepresented and, in many cases, simply not heard at all.

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Submitted by sbm-admin on Tue, 10/10/2023 - 10:38

Pocket Guide: Equity to Reduce the Racial Wealth Gap

This pocket guide is for use by policy advocates, lawmakers, and program administrators to review whether a proposed policy or program advances equity, specifically racial equity, to help reduce the racial wealth gap. Prioritizing racial equity creates inclusive economic prosperity, especially for economically and socially disadvantaged individuals, families, and small businesses in underserved areas affected by systemic oppression. 

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Investing in Chicago’s Small Businesses: Recommendations for Business Growth and Job Creation in Underserved Neighborhoods

Additionally, as part of the Chicago Inclusive Growth Coalition, Small Business Majority convened stakeholders and small business owners in different industries to address solutions for growth, job creation and economic development. Small Business Majority led workgroups in the development of a report to provide recommendations in the industries of construction, transportation and delivery, food and beverage service, manufacturing, and the creative industries in the City of Chicago.

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Inclusive Growth Toolkit for Business Service Organizations

Small Business Majority facilitates ecosystem building work by co-directing the Chicago Inclusive Growth Coalition (CIGC) alongside Allies for Community Business (formerly known as Accion in Illinois and Northwest Indiana). As part of this work, Small Business Majority facilitates impact measurement for local business assistance providers and reviews policy efforts and program investments to improve small business services in underserved neighborhoods.

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Illinois entrepreneur calls on Congress to rein in rising healthcare costs

Posted: May 18, 2023

Leslie Allison-Seei is the president of Robust Promotions LLC, an award-winning turnkey service provider offering prize consulting, legal documents and support, microsite infrastructure, graphic design and much more, in Villa Park, Ill. Together with her husband Greg, they’ve worked with restaurant chains and global brands such as Popeyes and Häagen Dazs, among others. 

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Illinois small business owners testifies in support of Truth in Lending Act protections

On March 28, Johnathon Bush, owner of Not Just Cookies provided testimony before the Illinois House Financial Institutions and Licensing Committee on HB 2234, legislation that would extend consumer protections for small business borrowers. 

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Submitted by Mayra Ordonez on Tue, 03/28/2023 - 13:46

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