Outreach Center at Governor State University Helps Minorities Launch Businesses

Karen Williams and Priscilla Cordero, director of the Illinois Small Business Development Center, Governors State University, talk to business owners about an outreach center at Governors State University after a Chatham Business Association meeting in Chicago.
Karen Williams and Priscilla Cordero, director of the Illinois Small Business Development Center, Governors State University, talk to business owners about an outreach center at Governors State University after a Chatham Business Association meeting in Chicago.

Minorities seeking help to launch new businesses can get free assistance from an outreach center at Governors State University in University Park, Ill., the head of the center said.

“Small business owners are missing out if they don’t take advantage our resource center,” said Priscilla Cordero, director of the Illinois Small Business Development Center at the college, 1 University Parkway in University Park.

Cordero met with several South Side business owners Tuesday at the Chatham Business Association’s (CBA) monthly meeting, held at the QBG Foundation/Chicago Citizen Newspaper headquarters, 806 E. 78th St. in Chicago.

Through the college’s small business development and international trade centers, the resource center offers access to the school’s faculty and staff, who can provide advice and assistance, Cordero said.

The center helps with business plans, marketing, social media use, lending advice and industry reports.

The center also provides a list of lawyers and accountants who can help small businesses.

So far, the resource center has provided advice to 223 people this year. About 30 percent of the clients were African American.

The center also provides advice to existing small businesses.

At the CBA meeting, Cordero also gave tips on getting loans from banks and keeping good credit.

For more information on the resource center, call 708-534-4929.

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