County Workshop to Focus on Business Opportunities for Veterans

Event open to all military vets and their dependents

Cook County Department of Veterans Affairs will host a resource workshop for veterans interested in information about owning a business and entrepreneurship opportunities.

The workshop will take place Monday August 11 in the 4th floor conference room of the County Building, 118 N. Clark St., Chicago, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The workshop is open to military veterans and their dependents, whether or not they work for Cook County.

The workshop, called V 2 B (Veterans 2 Business), has been developed in collaboration with the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Presentations will be made by representatives of Cook County, the SBA, WBDC, Accion Chicago, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and JP Morgan Chase.

The sessions will offer information to those attending to educate them on alternative financing sources for businesses, access to capital, and determining which certifications are appropriate and most beneficial for veteran-owned businesses. It also offers vets the opportunity to network with procurement, government contracting and financial professionals.

The Cook County Department of Veterans Affairs was created by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and the County Board in December 2012 with a mission of expanding opportunities and developing programs for veterans in Cook County. Preckwinkle appointed Bill Browne, a Vietnam-era Air Force veteran, to head the Department.

“We are committed to supporting our employee-veterans, and vets throughout the County, with needed programs and services,” said President Preckwinkle. “This workshop is a good example of how the Department of Veterans Affairs is opening doors for vets to pursue opportunities for future success.”

The V 2 B workshop is part of the outreach function of the Department. While much of its focus is on the County’s employee-veterans, the Department also collaborates with external veterans organizations on programs and services of importance to those who have served in the military.
Further information on the workshop is available by calling (312) 603-6423 or emailing veterans.affairs@cookcountyil.gov.