Wells Fargo Small Business Grant Program
- Application Cycle Closed -
Through the Wells Fargo Small Business Grants (WFSBG) program Wells Fargo, Quad Communities Development Corporation (QCDC), West Side Forward, and Allies for Community Business (A4CB) will provide operating grants to 20 entrepreneurs from the South and West Sides of Chicago.
We are seeking to provide grants to businesses located in physical storefronts.
All selected businesses are required to be located in one of the following community areas:
- Kenwood
- Oakland
- Douglas
- Grand Boulevard
- Near West Side
- East Garfield Park
- North Lawndale
- Lower West Side (Pilsen)
BUSINESS START-UP OPPORTUNITIES
Business Training Program
- Application Cycle Closed -
Neighborhood Business Development Center
In this 10-week in-person course participants are guided through developing a business plan, core fundamentals of marketing, financing, business accounting, risk management, and more. This program is for entrepreneurs and business owners that operate businesses in designated communities on the West Side of Chicago.
DESIGNATED COMMUNITIES
Austin
Garfield Park (East/West)
Humboldt Park
Lawndale (North/South)
JUSTICE IMPACTED OPPORTUNITIES
JI2 Program
- Application Cycle Open -
Justice Impacted Program | Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority | West Side Forward
JI2 is designed to create a pathway for individuals impacted by the justice system to tap into tangible opportunities for economic mobility and growth. Through intensive, hands-on training to either start a new career or build a business in three industries with high growth earning potential.
BENEFITS
Participants will receive a stipend, mental wellness support, support readiness resources, job placement, and other supportive services.
DESIGNATED COMMUNITIES
Austin
Garfield Park (East/West)
Humboldt Park
Lawndale (North/South)
MANUFACTURING ENTREPRENEURSHIP
SCALE-UP PROGRAM
Manufacturing Entrepreneurship Cohort
- Application Cycle Closed-
MEC is a 6-month cohort program to support scale-ready businesses by providing more than $10,000 in cash, products, and services to support the scale!
Grow your business to the next level with a hard tech product the market has been yearning for. The Manufacturing Entrepreneurship Cohort (MEC) is the ideal opportunity to leverage your existing profitable business with the adoption of a hard tech component.
Through 6 months of guided in-person classes, self-study sessions, industry events, and intensive 1 on 1 counseling, founders are able to develop and launch prototypes for their scale-ready businesses. Founders in MEC will have ongoing to mHUB, WSF Tech lab, and a team of business advisors, engineers, and mentors to scale their business.
TECH START-UP TRAINING
Technology Entrepreneurship Cohort (TEC)
- TEC Application Cycle Closed -
The Technology Entrepreneurship Cohort assists founders in LMI markets in exploring innovative ideas to incorporate manufacturing and technology into their businesses.
Through guided in-person classes, virtual sessions, and intensive individualized coaching participants are supported through every stage of execution from ideation to full launch.
TEC graduates become members of the BIT alumni network granting free access to a plethora of ongoing support and resources.
BUSINESS INTERRUPTION SUPPORT
Business reMIX
- Rolling Application -
Do you need structured help rethinking your business idea and strategy? Business ReMix is a 4-week training that allows you access to a business coach, tools, and resources to re-examine your business, and the current business climate and help you identify key adjustments required to succeed in this new economy.
AMx CERTIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
AMx 3D Printing Course
Presented at 2022 Summer Institute
- Application Cycle Closed -
AMx 3D Printing Experience with 3Degrees | Daley College | West Side Forward
This course will take place over 8 weeks starting in August 2022. meeting two times per week (1-day instruction and 1-day industry tours).
CERTIFICATION
Each student will have the opportunity to access content from one of the leading knowledge centers in the 3D Printing industry. The course content was built through a collaboration with America Makes and its members and delivered through the Society of Manufacturing Engineers– ToolingU.
MENTORSHIP
Who are the industry mentorships
Each student will be paired with at least one career mentor from the 3D Printing industry. These mentors will span a variety of industries including aerospace, medical, and automotive companies, and will help the students start to build a lasting network within the
MANUFACTURERS
Manufacturing facility tours to a number of cutting-edge 3D Printing manufacturers is part of this course, allowing behind-the-scenes access from industry experts.
This training is for adults to gain fundamental skills and experiences to secure jobs and successful high-growth careers in advanced manufacturing.
Supply Chain Management & Logistics Basic Certificate
Earn a Basic Supply Chain Management certificate and receive ongoing career coaching support throughout this 8-10 month program. This training is for adults to gain fundamental skills and experiences to secure jobs and successful high-growth careers in transportation, supply chain, and logistics.
