 From the Desk of:
Bernita Johnson-Gabriel, Executive Vice President,
Neighborhood and Strategic Initiatives
World Business Chicago
ChiBizHub Family,
In the midst of reopening Chicago after months of closure, we hope this newsletter will be informative and provide you with valuable information and counsel.
This month, we are highlighting Kenya Merritt, Chief Small Business Officer for the City of Chicago, Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) and community entrepreneur, Kayla Mae Tran, a freelance hairdresser.
Kenya is responsible for public engagement and program development for small businesses and leads the Neighborhood Business Development Centers (NBDC) program, which connects BACP to small businesses through partnerships with community organizations. Kenya’s role has proved critical to the execution of Chicago’s phased reopening as well as the launch of several grant and loan programs for small businesses and creatives.
Our second spotlight, Kayla, decided to quit her full-time job and go into business for herself. At the heart of her work is building strong relationships that extend well beyond the chair. She believes her work empowers others and is celebrating 15 months of her journey despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Kayla truly embodies the resiliency of Chicago’s entrepreneurial community.
In closing, please take a moment to visit our COVID-19 Resource Page. It provides up-to-date information about resources and support available to you and your employees to aid in sustaining your business and scaling it during this time. You will also find a series of ChiBizHub Conversations, in English and Spanish, on topics like preparing for e-commerce, positioning your business for financing, and more.
Be sure to follow us on all social media channels to stay up to date on the latest ChiBizHub Conversations offering small business support! We also encourage you to share your events and online workshops to our calendar (see link below).
Stay safe and healthy! #wearyourmask #TogetherAgainstCOVID19
Bernita
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