Elgin Area Chamber launches inaugural event for minority businesses on May 2

Building a network to advance African American, Latino, and other minority small businesses and entrepreneurial leaders is a priority for the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce and Elgin Development Group.

To achieve its goal and move forward, it has been announced that a new committee, BRIDGES, has been formed for shared learning, directed access, and advocacy/marketing platforms.

BRIDGES will launch its inaugural event at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 2, at Hawthorne Hill Nature Center, 28 Brookside Drive in Elgin.

Individuals from the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities are invited to attend.

Guest experts at the first BRIDGES event are: Ana Perez, small business relationship manager, Associated Bank in Elgin; Glenn Earl, professor of entrepreneurial studies at Elgin Community College; Carol Gieske, president and CEO, Elgin Area Chamber; and Tony Lucenko, director, Elgin Development Group.

The BRIDGES committee is led by co-chairs, Rise Jones, founder and executive director of Hamilton Wings, and Mary Nappier, national operation support manager of Stanley Steemer, who have volunteered to lead the direction of the group in collaboration with the EAC.

"Our BRIDGES initiative of reaching out to diverse groups in our community evolved from the Elgin Area Chamber's strategic plan and the Elgin Development Group's focus on helping businesses remain strong and to grow," said Jones. "We've created this platform encouraging individuals in taking the next step to grow or start their own business. We're still in the formation stage and look forward to our first meeting where everyone can feel comfortable together and develop new ideas for economic growth."

The concept behind the BRIDGES' name envelopes its vision, mission, and core messages: B - building business; R - resourcing; I - incorporating; D - developing; G - growth; E - expanding; and S -strategic, strength, success.

"This first event is just the beginning to support new entrepreneurs and small to moderate business owners seeking to understand practical next steps to growth and sustainability," said Gieske. "To embrace economic growth, we envision BRIDGES to be a link to resources available to support those next steps," adds Lucenko.

For more information about BRIDGES and to attend the inaugural event, contact the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce at (847) 741-5660.