IDOT Visits CBA

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Marie Butler, Capital Project Manager, IDOT speaks to the Chatham Business Association about infrastructure improvements and developments in Illinois. (Photo by Thelma Sardin)
Marie Butler, Capital Project Manager, IDOT speaks to the Chatham Business Association about infrastructure improvements and developments in Illinois. (Photo by Thelma Sardin)

by Thelma Sardin

In an effort to spread the word about improvement and infrastructure development throughout the state, the Illinois Department of Transportation has developed a partnership with the Chatham Business Association (CBA). The purpose of the venture is to inform CBA members about business opportunities in Illinois.

Marie Butler, Capital Project Manager, IDOT joined the CBAs monthly meeting on Aug. 9 to discuss possible opportunities for minority business owners.

In Oct. 2010, Governor Pat Quinn provided Joliet, IL with a $32 million grant from the Illinois Jobs Now! program to construct a multi-modal transportation station in the citys downtown area.

On Aug. 16, IDOT will be hosting the Business-To-Business Exchange for transportation and construction companies who are interested in opportunities with the stations development.

Butler said that business owners from all sectors and industries are invited to attend.

The networking event will allow for entrepreneurs to learn about contracting opportunities for the multi-modal transportation center and other infrastructure projects in the region.

In addition, entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to meet global transportation and construction industry leaders.

Federal, state, local government and civic officials will also be in attendance.

We have a lot of people interested in this event, said Butler.

Because the grant came from the Illinois Jobs Now! program, Butler says that the networking event is not limited to business owners within the city of Joliet, but interested individuals from all over the region.

Butler encourages individuals to bring their business plans and be eager to learn how their company can benefit from the construction program.

For interested parties, the event will be held August 16 from 4:00 pm- 6:30 pm at Joliet Junior College, Technology Center (T Building) 1215 Houbolt Road in Joliet.

Irma Lopez-Herdia of Money Management, Inc. also attended the CBA meeting. A frequent visitor to the CBA, she shared tips on credit management for business owners.

MMI is a full-service, nonprofit credit counseling agency that has been providing confidential financial guidance, financial education, counseling and debt management assistance to consumers since 1958, as stated on its website.

In addition, MMI provides financial literacy and counseling within Chatham and surrounding South side communities.

Karletta Kelly, CBAs assistant to the executive director informed the membership of upcoming events which includes a credit counseling session at the QBG Building Resource Center, 806 E. 78th Street on Aug 18 at 5:30 pm. The session will be hosted by MMI in partnership with PNC Bank. For more information, please log on to www.cbaworks.org

Kelly also mentioned that SSA # 51 will hold its next commissioners meeting on Aug. 17 at Chicago State University. For more information, please visit the CBA website. SSA #51 is supervised by the CBA and provides funds for beautification, maintenance, safety and various promotional events in Chatham and the surrounding area.

The meeting closed with William Garth, Sr., CBA chairman and publisher of the Chicago Citizen Newspaper Group asking members to support the QBG Foundations upcoming Scholarship Awards Gala 2011 on Aug. 20. Garth is also founder and chairman of the QBG Foundation. To purchase tickets for the QBG Foundation Scholarship Gala, go to www.thechicagocitizen.com, or call Larissa Tyler at 773-783-1251. You can also purchase tickets by visiting the Chicago Citizen Newspaper Group Inc. at 806 East 78th Street.

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