August 20, 2026
Dr. Deloris Thomas with JBS faculty, stakeholders, etc.
Stories this photo appears in:
Illinois Sees Record Minority Business Starts — But Too Few Reach $1 Million. Joseph Business School’s Access to Capital Forum Targets the Scaling Crisis
Illinois is experiencing one of the most active periods of business creation in the country. More than 189,000 new business applications were filed last year, and the Chicago metropolitan area was ranked the #1 U.S. region for corporate expansion for the 13th consecutive year. Yet behind this surge lies a troubling reality: as many businesses are closing or relocating as are opening, creating a high‑churn environment that makes it difficult for new ventures to survive, let alone scale.