A Word from the Co-Presidents Greetings!
Welcome to the Spring edition of About Women's Business! Spring is finally in full bloom in Chicago, and exciting events are happening all around us. We invite you to read our 2009 Annual Report and see the impact our programs and services have had over the past year for aspiring and established women business owners. The 2009 Annual Report was designed by Chicago-area WBE certified designer Desert Rose Design, and we are grateful to our longtime partner BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois for underwriting the Annual Report printing.
We join many in mourning the loss of Dorothy I. Height, civil rights activist and women's advocate. As the leader of the National Council of Negro Women for 40 years, Dorothy dedicated her life to pursuing social justice for women and all races. Dorothy was a pioneer of civil rights and women's rights, and in 1963 she witnessed President John F. Kennedy sign the Equal Pay Act. As one of the most significant role models for generations of women, with a tenacious commitment to equality for all Americans, our country lost a true leader in Dorothy and she will be missed by many.
Warm regards,
Hedy M. Ratner & Carol Dougal
Co-Founders and Co-Presidents |
| Twelfth Annual Child Care Business Expo
Planting Seeds of Growth and Resilience in the New Economy | |
Attendees at the 11th Annual Child Care Business Expo enjoy the Exhibition Hall. |
The Twelfth Annual Child Care Business Expo will take place on Saturday, May 22, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Chicago Hilton and Towers, 720 S. Michigan Avenue. The 2010 Child Care Business Expo offers child care entrepreneurs an energizing day of reflection and action for their businesses, providing access to creative solutions to today's business issues and a much-needed network of resources and support. The entire event will be presented bilingually in Spanish and English. Read more>> |
| Health Care Reform & Small Businesses
New Small Business Health Care Tax Credit | |
Recent health care reform has many small business owners wondering what the implications will be for their businesses. Health reform legislation establishes a small business health care tax credit to help small businesses afford the cost of covering their workers. The new tax credit takes effect immediately to help cover premiums small businesses pay. Read more>> |
| WBE Spotlight
West Fuels, Inc. |  Deborah Stange(pictured right) is President of West Fuels, Inc., a full service petroleum distributor located in La Grange, Illinois. Founded in 1991, West Fuels now delivers over 30 million gallons of fuel each year and has annual revenues of over $10 million. Read more>> |
| Child Care Spotlight
Lectura Montessori School | |
Felicia Levy is owner of Lectura Montessori School, the first and only Montessori school located in the City of Berwyn, Illinois.
With a background as a former elementary education teacher, Felicia originally planned on opening a traditional preschool program. However, while pregnant with her first son, she spent a summer working at a Montessori school and was inspired by the Montessori model. Read more>> |
| Funder Spotlight
Prudential | | The Prudential Insurance Company of America's Chicagoland Agency is proud to have a strategic relationship with the Women's Business Development Center. "Our agency is proud to support the WBDC and we have been working to create a relationship that positively impacts the community and strengthens our mutual commitment to diversity," said Robbin Burr, Prudential's Chicago-based Diversity Relationship Manager. Read more>> |
| WBDC Board Spotlight
Donna Westerman | |
Donna Westerman (pictured left) is Global Director of Supplier Diversity and Corporate Social Responsibility at Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company and the newest member of the WBDC Board of Directors. Donna brings with her a wealth of experience working in the supplier diversity field. Read more>> |
| IL Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit
$2,500 Tax Credit Will Create 20,000 New Jobs | |
On April 13, 2010, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed into law Senate Bill 1578 creating the Illinois Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit. The $2,500 tax credit will be available to employers with 50 or fewer total employees who hire new, full-time Illinois employees during the 12-month period beginning July 1, 2010. It is estimated that this tax credit will help create up to 20,000 jobs. Read more>> |
| New SBA Proposed Rule for Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program
Our Voices in Washington | |
An important rule to assist women-owned businesses to participate in federal contracting opportunities was recently published and is awaiting comment and recommendations from the women's business community. The WBDC is asking you, the women business owners who are affected by this proposed rule, to support the program but comment on issues that could adversely affect your ability to participate. Read more>> |
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2009 Annual Report
Download our 2009 Annual Report |
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Design by Desert Rose Design. Printing generously underwritten by BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois. |
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Upcoming Workshops |
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6 week series begins
May 3, 5:45-8:45pm or May 5, 12:30-3:30pm
Cost: $195 for series, $45 for individual workshops
4 week series begins
May 7, 12:00-2:30pm
Cost: $125 |
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Save the Date!
24th Annual Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference |
September 22, 2010
McCormick Place
Chicago, IL |
| Support the WBDC! |
For 24 years, the WBDC has been THE place for women to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams of starting, strengthening and expanding their businesses.
The WBDC thanks all the sponsors and donors who supported our work in 2009! We invite you to view our annual thank you ad which recently ran in The Chicago Sun-Times and Crain's Chicago Business.
Now in our third decade, we continue to need your help to meet the ongoing challenges of delivering high-quality services to our clients and achieving our organizational goals.
Please consider giving generously to the WBDC today. To donate online click here. |
| Send us your success stories! |
The WBDC wants to share in your business success! Over the past 24 years, the WBDC has helped over 60,000 women start or expand their businesses.
Please share your success stories with us so that we may share them in our newsletters and media features as an inspiration to all. Please contact Danae Kovac at dkovac@wbdc.org. |
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