Oakton opens Small Business Development Center

DES PLAINES - As part of its recognition of Small Business Month, Oakton College celebrated Small Business Day on Wednesday, May 10, by promoting its recently opened Illinois Small Business Development Center.

The SBDC at Oakton College provides business advising and training, including, but not limited to, business formation, financial analysis, needs assessments, market projections, accessing capital, developing a business plan, strategic planning and more.

The center will also offer workshops and webinars on various topics, including how to start a business in Illinois, writing a business plan, how to register with the System for Award Management (SAM) and Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) and programs of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and local units of government.

"Helping members of our community with their small business interests is part of supporting and empowering our community," said Ileo Lott, Oakton provost and vice president for academic affairs, in a news release. "By providing access to capital and business development counseling, training and tools, the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Oakton College positions us to assist populations that might not always have equitable access to this type of support."

The college received a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity to support the center on its Des Plaines campus. The center is temporarily located in the college's library but will move to a permanent location within the college at a later time. Oakton staff and independent experts provide in-person and virtual counseling sessions, training, technical assistance and informational tools to support startups and existing businesses.