The WBDC Turns 40. Explore 40 Years of Impact

Capital Readiness 101

Is your business positioned to weather financial challenges, adapt to changing market conditions and take advantage of expansion opportunities? External capital may be a necessary tool. But what should every...

Starting Your Business in Illinois

Are you considering starting a business in Illinois? During the workshop, we will take an initial assessment to help you recognize your startup strengths, introduce you to five basic startup...

RiseUp Fall 2026 | Application Deadline

The Women’s Business Development Center is proud to present RiseUp, a childcare business cohort tailored exclusively for childcare entrepreneurs. This dynamic program offers comprehensive training on key business topics and...

Smart Marketing Leveraging: AI for Small Business Marketing

FOR ILLINOIS RESIDENTS ONLY. In this 1.5-hour workshop, small business owners will explore how to leverage AI—especially tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and CoPilot—to boost marketing effectiveness and productivity. You’ll start...