The  City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) reminds entrepreneurs about the upcoming free business works seminar geared towards helping new business owners with access to resources and financing.

The seminar will be offered on Thursday, June 17, 2010 at Wright College, 4300 N. Narragansett at 5:30 p.m.  The event is free and open to the public, registration is not required.

At the event, entrepreneurs will connect with nearly 30 government and non-profit agencies that assist small businesses with licensing, business planning, small business loan resources, financial incentives and more.

Three workshops will be offered that begin at 7:15pm on how to write a business plan, how to finance your business, and how to use email marketing to boost your business.

“Business Works is a great resource for anybody interested in starting a business. Even established businesses can benefit from the workshops and by connecting with resources to grow an existing business” said Commissioner of the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, Norma I. Reyes.

The evenings keynote speaker will be a well known local Chicago business owner Marc Schulman, President  of The Eli’s Cheesecake Company, who will share his business success story.

At the event, entrepreneurs graduating from the Business Start-Up Program will be presented with certificates.  The Business Start-Up Certificate Program, offered by BACP and City Colleges of Chicago, is a free program for entrepreneurs that offers a curriculum of classes that cover all the basics of starting or growing a business.  Classes are held at City Hall and are offered twice a week.

Business Works Seminars will be offered throughout the year: 

Thursdays, 5:30pm -9:00pm

June 17, 2010 - Wright College - 4300 N. Narragansett

August 19, 2010 - West Side Technical Institute -2800 S. Western Ave.

November 18, 2010 - Malcolm X College - 1900 W. Van Buren St.

The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection encourages and supports entrepreneurial growth throughout Chicago by offering the Business Works seminars in various parts of the city and other programs that provide businesses with resources to grow and succeed.

More information is available online at www.cityofchicago.org/bacp .

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