Click here to visit the Contract Opportunities page on our website to access current government contracting opportunities on the local, state and federal levels. 

NEWS

ONLINE REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY ENTREPRENEURIAL WOMAN'S CONFERENCE

The 25th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference, the oldest and most comprehensive conference for both aspiring and established women business owners, will take place Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at Chicago's McCormick Place-West.  Highlights include:  the Women's Business and Buyers Mart, with more than 300 government and corporate buyers who are committed to purchasing products and services from women-owned businesses; the Women's Forum Breakfast, moderated by best-selling author and Chicago Sun-Times syndicated financial columnist Terry Savage, featuring prominent entrepreneurs discussing the trials and tribulations of running a successful business; the Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon, honoring successful female entrepreneurs and supporters of women's economic development; and the WBDC's 25th Anniversary Celebration, to be held the evening of September 13, 2011.  Tickets are $225 for women business owners and $250 for all others before August 15, 2011; after August 15, 2011, tickets become $300 for everyone, in advance and at the door.  For more information or to register online, please click here.

10TH ANNUAL CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS

The 10th Annual Chicago Innovation Awards seek to shine a bright light on the best new innovations from the Chicagoland region (including the northern half of Illinois, southern Wisconsin, and northwest Indiana).  The ten winners each year are innovations that uniquely fill unmet needs, spark a competitive response in the marketplace, exceed market expectations, achieve financial success and improve people's lives.  Nominations close July 31, 2011.  Please click here to apply today.

AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE BUSINESS ACCELERATOR PROGRAM

The Business Accelerator Program, now in its third year, provides business owners the opportunity to learn how to increase sales activity, market smarter and manage your business better-all at NO COST to you.

This program is delivered via symposiums, webinars, small groups and online tools.  The next Symposium will be held on May 24th at the Hyatt Rosemont, 6350 N. River Rd. in Rosemont, IL from 10:00 am - 2:30 pm (registration and networking begin at 9:00 am).

For more information and to register for the May 24th Symposium, visit AmFamBusinessAccelerator.com.

NEW CHICAGO ORDINANCE FOR SHARED KITCHENS

On May 4, 2011 an ordinance amendment passed through the Chicago City Council that eases current regulatory requirements placed on food businesses.  The ordinance creates a special category of business license for shared kitchen operators and the food entrepreneurs that utilize these commercial kitchen spaces.  The amendment addresses the emerging business activity of shared kitchens that fosters entrepreneurial growth in the food industry.

To learn more about this ordinance, please click here.

ERNST & YOUNG ENTREPRENEURIAL WINNING WOMEN

Ernst & Young invites outstanding women entrepreneurs to accelerate the growth of their businesses and realize the potential they envision for their companies.  Participants in the Entrepreneurial Winning Women program will receive an all-expense-paid trip to the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum 2011, named by Forbes.com as one of its seven "get-ahead executive retreats."

Please click here to review the eligibility requirements.  Applications are due June 30, 2011; to apply or to nominate a deserving woman, please click here.

MINORITY AND FEMALE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (MAFBE) MAKING THE VENDOR CONNECTION CONFERENCE 2011

The MAFBE Conference provides an opportunity for business owners to connect with buying departments from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Urbana and Springfield campuses.  The conference, held on June 15, 2011, will also include representatives from other public and private universities and local government entities. 

Please click here to learn more about the MAFBE Conference and to register today.

THIRD ANNUAL VETERANS SUMMIT ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The Veterans Business Resource Center invites you to attend the 3rd Annual Veterans Summit on Entrepreneurship to be held on Thursday, May 19, 2011 in Berkeley, MO. The Summit is designed for business owners to discover funding alternatives, prepare for international trade and to hear state procurement updates as well as to learn the best practices of establishing and maintaining a business in a recovering economy.  Special guest speakers will include Billy Jenkins, Veterans Procurement Liaison with the SBA and Alan Green, Director, of the Office of Equal Opportunity for the State of Missouri.

To learn more information about this event and to register today, please click here.

WBENC 2011 NATIONAL CONFERENCE & BUSINESS FAIR

The Opportunity Connection is presented annually by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Workshops will focus on topics such as WBE capacity development and the evolution of corporate supply chains in the new economy, and the U.S. Small Business Administration's Women Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program (8M Recovery Act).  Keynote speakers will include Soledad O'Brien, CNN, and Annie Duke, Federated Sports + Gaming.  This year's conference will be held June 21-23, 2011 in Las Vegas, NV. 

To learn more about the conference and to register today, please click here.

SUCCESS STORIES: WORDS OF INSPIRATION FROM FELLOW WBEs

May's Featured WBE:  Michele Boone, deZinnia, Inc.

Michele Boone is owner of deZinnia, Inc., a full-fledged creative agency.  Michele found success from researching and listening to her clients' needs, and has made this the cornerstone of her 20-year-old business. 

To hear more about this WBE's success, please click here.

EVENTS 

WBDC WORKSHOPS & EVENTS

All WBDC workshops will take place at our 8 S. Michigan Ave. Center, unless otherwise noted.

The e-Marketing Series *New!*

• Driving Traffic to Your Website: SEO & Copywriting (Date: May 18, 2011) 
• Online Storytelling: Business Blogging & Email Newsletters (Date: May 25, 2011)
• Reputation Management and Analytics (Date: June 1, 2011) 
• Online Store & Places You Can't Ignore (Date: June 8, 2011)
• Workin' the Social Media Beat: Your Online Marketing Plan (Date: June 15, 2011)

Webinar: The Myths of Franchising (Date: May 16, 2011)

Effective Networking & Maximizing Supplier Diversity Tradeshows (Minnesota Workshop) (Date: May 20, 2011; Location: Minneapolis, MN) 

How to Do Business with the State of Illinois (Date: May 25, 2011) 

Webinar: Eligibility Requirements & How to Apply for 8(a) Certification (Date: June 2, 2011) 

Joint Ventures: Partnerships & Other Teaming Strategies (Date: June 14, 2011)

PARTNER EVENTS

Patents and Trademarks 101: Get the Information You Need to Protect Your Invention (Date: May 12, 2011; Location: Chicago, IL)

Association of Women's Professionals' End of Spring/Almost Summer Networking Event (Date: May 12, 2011; Location: Chicago, IL)

Federation of Women Contractors - Women Rock 2011 (Date: June 2, 2011; Location: Chicago, IL) 

FEATURED CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES 

Please click the links below to access the government procurement pages and contract opportunity documents.  Note: additional documentation may be available on government procurement pages.

Chicago

City of Chicago

• Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Parts and Service for Public Address and Intercom Systems at the Chicago Airport System (Due Date: May 25, 2011)

City Colleges of Chicago

• Request for Proposals (RFP) Computer Equipment, Software and Related Services (Due Date: June 7, 2011; Pre-Bid Due Date: May 17, 2011) 

Chicago Housing Authority

• Invitation for Bid (IFB) Partial Demolition and Restoration (Due Date: May 19, 2011)

Chicago Park District

• Invitation for Bid (IFB) Broadway Armory Rehab: Indoor Running Track (Due Date: May 25, 2011; Pre-Bid Meeting: May 12, 2011) 

Chicago Transit Authority

• Request for Proposals (RFP) for Qualified Firms to Provide Investigative Services for the CTA Law Department (Due Date: June 1, 2011)

Public Building Commission of Chicago

• Request for Qualifications (RFQ) Architect of Record Chicago Transit Authority Rail Car Simulator Facility (Due Date: May 23, 2011)

Cook County

Cook County Office of the Purchasing Agent

• Request for Proposal (RFP) Sheriff's Women's Justice Program: Gender and Culturally Responsive Integrated Treatment On-Site Program and Mom's Program (Due Date: May 20, 2011) 

State of Illinois

IllinoisBID - Illinois Procurement Bulletin

• Invitation for Bid (IFB) District 8 Wetlands Mitigation Weed Spraying IFB (Due Date: May 20, 2011)  

Federal

FedBizOpps

• Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Department of the Army Recruiting and Retention Furniture (Due Date: May 19, 2011)