Do you have a restaurant or food service establishment in DuPage County? Recently, the County Board made additional funds available, specifically for restaurants and food establishments, through the Small Business Relief Grant Program. Check here for the criteria and restrictions. This new program, offered in conjunction with Choose DuPage Economic Development Alliance, provides grants for certain business expenses.
Reopening and Staying Open - How to Assess the Past 60 Days and Prepare for What's Next
Thursday, Aug 6, 2020 at noon.
This live SCORE webinar will help you figure out your best steps. SCORE, a nonprofit resource and education partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration, provides mostly free assistance to small business owners and entrepreneurs.
The expert presenter will cover:
- Creating a profit & loss statement for planning purposes
- Positioning yourself in the market
- Managing capacity limits in your place of business
- Planning for extended adjustments due to the coronavirus and other long term consumer changes
Register and SCORE will send the recording if you can't make it.
Click here for their list of upcoming webinars. Take a look at their recorded webinar list here.
Find information about our local SCORE chapter.
The school year has wrapped up and you have leftover supplies. What can you do? As of yesterday, SCARCE, the wonderful environmental education organization, began accepting many materials for reuse through their tools-for-schools program. In addition to educational supplies, SCARCE recycles many other items. Check their acceptable items list and procedures here.
If SCARCE can't take certain materials, search for other options. Spend some time exploring their website; this organization provides many resources and services, including a calendar of recycling and shredding events.
SCORE, a nonprofit resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration, has several live webinars scheduled in the coming weeks. You can view Protecting your Business from Fraud on June 18 and Protecting and Increasing the Value of your Business on July 2, among others.
Take advantage of SCORE's industry experts by using Real Time Mentoring Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Register here.
The library partners with SCORE Fox Valley.
Back to Business: a Virtual Conference takes place June 9 - 11. A librarian from the northern suburbs shared these details. Although some programs pertain specifically to those towns, it looks informative and helpful for all, with topics ranging from new service models to financial support. Register separately for sessions.
Do you need some guidance for the reopening process? Fox Valley SCORE has put out a toolkit that provides a succinct and helpful overview for assessing your business, surviving, planning for the future, and communicating.
We partner with Fox Valley SCORE for a variety of programs.
Need help? |
Call or text someone. |
You can reach free, confidential help if you need to talk to someone about the stress or difficulties you have right now. The Illinois Department of Human Service has a resource list of help lines you can text or phone for assistance. It's a tough time. Call for problems with substance abuse, gambling, mental health issues or for any emotional support. They understand. Click here.
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On May 14, SCORE will present a live webinar on Essential PR Tools and Tactics-Elevate the Visibility of your Business While Being Sheltered in Place. Starts at 12 noon. Watching the webinar live means you can ask questions. Register here for this program . We partner with Fox Valley SCORE for programs and other opportunities throughout the year.
Do you miss poring over each issue of BookPage as much as we do? Subscribe to their free enewsletters here and keep up with their recommendations of books and authors you should know about.
Get free help from SCORE's expert mentors during the current health crisis. They offer personalized assistance that will help your business respond to the current health crisis. Remote mentoring services available include phone, email, video and chat. Find a mentor today.
The library partners with Fox Valley SCORE for programs and informal roundtable discussions. Check our calendar for future opportunities.
On April 15 at 2 PM, customer service specialist Laurie Guest presents a free live Webinar.
Laurie says,"When is the right time to make the sale again? It's an understandable question right now, as we navigate balancing our "new normal" with the need to keep business running. The answer isn't as easy as it seems, so...it depends. It depends on your industry, your relationship with your customers and most of all, your reason for diving back into business.
Join me Wednesday, April 15 at 2p CT for a live conversation about ... when is it OK to get back to selling? A limited number of seats are available at the live, free webinar. By registering, you'll have access to the live Q&A and you'll receive my "Market Plan After Crisis" guide that walks any business through how to rethink their sales plan after an unexpected disruption."
Register here.
Which of the many programs and initiatives now available for small business owners will best suit your business? This webinar, presented by Brian Pifer with the Small Business Majority, will help untangle your options. He'll review CARES Act loans and other policy recommendations that will help now. Sign up here for the 12 PM, April 16 program.
It will cover:
- The Payroll Protection Program(PPP)
- Economic Injury Disaster Loans(EIDL)
- State and local emergency relief funds
- Nonprofit, mission-driven lending
If you're like me, you plan on helping local businesses. Try these ideas:
- Shop online, but at the smaller local businesses
- Leave good reviews for your favorite businesses on sites such as Yelp, Google, or Facebook
- Like and share their social media posts
- Buy a gift card. Some businesses may offer a discount now.
- Look for donation-based online classes or presentations at businesses, such as online fitness classes
- Tip generously
- Don't accept refunds for canceled events.
- And we all know about delivery (or takeout) from your favorite small restaurant.
- More ideas? Let me know. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Thanks to: https://startupnation.com/start-your-business/help-small-businesses-survive-covid-19/
On Thursday, April 9 at noon, join SCORE experts in this live Q & A webinar on Coronavirus and Your Small Business. Register here. Submit questions beforehand, too. Check for more local programs here.