Skip to content

DCEO Funding Opportunitites

Back to News

DCEO Funding Opportunitites

Small Business Finance Economic Development Local Communities Business Government programs and resources Funding & Grants

Business Cohort/Training Programs

 

  • Food Hero Culinary Career Pathways Program
    • Description: 8 week training program in the food and hospitality industry. Classes are normally Tuesday through Friday for about 5 hours each day. 
    • Geographic Coverage: in-person Chicago
    • Cost: $5,000; however, they have a grant from the State so those eligible can have the tuition covered (e.g., recently applied for unemployment, receiving unemployment benefits, or exhausted benefits within the last 12 months) 
  •  
  • Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center - Milestone Circles
    • Description: “Milestone Circles is the signature 12-week program helping U.S.-based founders build, scale, and lead with purpose. Our community provides a dedicated space to learn alongside like-minded entrepreneurs across America who share your passion for building something greater than themselves.”
    • Geographic Coverage: Nationwide
    • Cost: Free, “Supported by the Wells Fargo Foundation”

  • Juntos Emprendemos
    • Description: "Juntos Emprendemos" es un programa de 10 semanas sin costo para los participantes, diseñado para emprendedores que ya han desarrollado una idea de negocio sólida y están listos para llevar su emprendimiento al siguiente nivel.” Spanish cohort for those who have an idea to start a business or want to grow their business. Flyer attached. Starts March 18, 2026. 
    • Geographic Coverage: online program
    • Cost: Free

  • Passport Community Q2 cohort, starts Tuesday, April 7th - ends Tuesday, June 30th, 2026
    • Description: “Passport Community is a high-impact, weekly mastermind designed for growth-minded business owners generating over $250k who are ready to sharpen their revenue strategy and execute with intention over the next 90 days. Passport Community is designed to business owners: clarify your revenue priorities; strengthen your growth strategy; learn from peers facing similar scaling challenges; stay accountable to real progress. Sessions are weekly on Tuesdays from 5:30pm - 7pm CST via zoom.”. For more info, click HERE. To register, click HERE. 
    • Cost: $299

  • Empower Program
    • “The Empower Program is a multi-state small business development program designed to help growth-stage entrepreneurs and firms strengthen operational capacity and readiness for government contracting and next-phase opportunities.” Led by the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce. Open to “Small business owners and entrepreneurs who operate in an eligible state”. Illinois is one of the states included. 
    • Cost: Doesn’t appear to be a cost.

  • Business Academy: 3 Core Courses for Entrepreneurs
    • Description: “The Business Academy is a free training series delivered in partnership with GSDC, CIO, and GRCC to help entrepreneurs strengthen business foundations, improve operations, and build practical systems they can use immediately.” “Courses are practical, accessible, and bilingual.” Starts in March. 
    • Geographic Coverage: Depending on the program it is either online or in-person in Chicago
    • Cost: Free

  • Spark Lab Incubator
    • Description: “The Spark Lab Incubator is a high-impact virtual program that equips early-stage entrepreneurs with expert mentoring, strategic workshops, and unparalleled community networking to accelerate business growth, all designed through an LGBTQ+ lens.” Open nationwide
    • Cost: Unknown
    • Deadline: February 27, 2026

  • Block Advisors, by H&R Block Small Business Financial Readiness Boost Camp
    • Description: “This 8-week virtual accelerator is designed to help entrepreneurs master the complete business-building toolkit—from brand to balance sheet—with expert financial guidance at every critical decision point.” Open nationwide to eligible businesses. Virtual program.
    • Cost: Free
    • Deadline: March 24, 2026 at 5:00pm


Business Workshops/Events

 

  • Free Financial Literacy Session hosted by Fempreneur Poder Hub and Pursuit 
    • February 26, 2026 at 5:00pm live on Instagram, IG: @FEMPRENEURPODER
    • Cost: Free



Nominations

 

  • Negocios Now Latinos 40 under 40 Chicago
    • Description: Nominations are now open, and it is open to the Chicago metropolitan area. “The 40 exceptional Latinos under 40 who will be selected will come from various sectors, including business, government, nonprofit, sports, education, and more.”
    • Deadline: February 28, 2026

 

Nonprofit Resources

 


DCEO Job Opportunities: For a full list, click HERE

 

Additional Resources/Opportunities

 

  • Want to learn more about how to create a Worker Cooperative?
    • Description: Center for Changing Lives “…Small Business Coaching will help you understand what a worker co-op is and how this can support you in your entrepreneurial work.”

Powered By GrowthZone