Encouraging Diversity, Growth and Equity (EDGE) Program
Eight-Week Program | No Fee
NOW ENROLLING: EDGE Program Fall/Winter 2023! Click to Apply!
Are you a business interested in learning how to successfully contract with the City of Chicago? Or, are you currently a subcontractor and looking to become the prime contractor? The EDGE: Supplier Development Program will provide targeted support to small businesses interested in contracting with the City of Chicago.
The Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) and the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC) have been selected to provide capacity-building supplier development programming to help support small business owners interested in contracting with the City of Chicago and assist current subcontractors interested in becoming the prime contractor.
Curriculum
The program will include weekly group trainings, 1:1 individual counseling, and industry specific assistance. Capacity-building services to be provided are:
- Accessing Capital
- Bonding and Insurance
- Business Planning/Strategies
- Understanding Contracting Fundamentals
- Estimating and Bidding
- Finance and Financial Management
- Financing to Scale Business Operations
- Finding Contracting Opportunities
- Understanding Government Contracting
- Human Resources
- Marketing and Sales
- How to Obtain M/WBE Certification
- Project Management
Eligibility
Business Age: Two Years or More
Revenue: $75,000 or More
Commitment: Business owners must be able to dedicate time to the program and attend at least 90% of the workshops.
Location: Business must be based in the City of Chicago.
Applications are due by 5pm on September 14, 2023.
If you’re interested in joining the next EDGE cohort, please click here to set up a brief phone interview.
The exposure and connections you made really helped me to secure new business. Just in case you ever wonder if you are making a difference, know you truly are. Thank you!
Amy Ihde - Freedom Air Filtration, Downers Grove, IL, GovCon Airports Grad
