Women's HERstory Month 2023

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is excited to celebrate Women’s HERstory Month. Throughout March, DCEO is hosting events and elevating financial and social capital resources to advance women-owned businesses throughout the state. We’ll also spotlight the contributions of businesses owned by women in Illinois – learn more about how to get involved, attend events and support women-owned businesses below. 

Overview of Financial Capital Resources for Small Businesses
Wednesday | March 1, 2023 | 10:00 – 11:00 AM | VIRTUAL | REGISTER

Is access to financial capital important for your business? During the monthly Online with OMEE series, Team OMEE (Office of Minority Economic Empowerment) provides the latest financial capital resources offered across the sectors, state & federal programs, and other opportunities for business owners & entrepreneurs. 

Stay Positive!  Survival Tactics to Manage Your Cash Flow
Wednesday| March 15, 2023 | 1:00 - 2:00 PM | VIRTUAL | REGISTER

Learn to successfully manage your cash flow during any economic climate and in an ever-changing global business setting.  Alternative financial capital options exist! Presented by the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) and hosted by OMEE and the Illinois Small Business Development Center (IL SBDC), the March virtual event is part of the monthly webinar series, Advancing the Development of Minority Entrepreneurship (ADME), which features a different topic and presenter each month. Also joining us in March are our colleagues from the Office of Regional Economic Development (RED).   

Expanding HER Opportunities - Certify Your Business as Women-Owned
Thursday | March 16, 2023 | 10:00 – 11:00 AM | VIRTUAL | REGISTER

Learn how certifying as a women-owned business can expand opportunities including government contracting, connecting with buyers looking to meet their federal subcontracting goals, accessing leads for bids and proposals and marketing opportunities exclusive to those who have certifications. Presented during Team RED’s monthly webinar series, attendees will also learn about no-cost resources to assist along the way no matter what stage her business is in.

Illinois’ business ecosystem across the sectors offers a magnitude of business resources and events for women-owned businesses of all business stages, sizes, and industries. Click the links below for additional information:

• Events for women-owned businesses & future founders during March and year-round
• State of Illinois government resources
• Federal & local government resources
  
• Financial capital resources
• Social capital resources 

• Celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8 with spotlights on women-owned businesses by the Illinois Office of Trade and Investment
• Support Illinois’ unique women artisans, bakers and entrepreneurs who are a part of the Illinois Made program

In the link below, you’ll find tips, sample social media posts, graphics, and ideas on how to celebrate and promote Women’s HERstory Month!

• Women’s HERstory Month Social Media Toolkit

Below are a few of the many business directories which feature Illinois women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs: 

• Champaign County Chamber of Commerce’s Woman Owned Business List
• City of Bloomington’s Minority Business Directory
• City of Highland Park’s Business Directory
• City of Rockford’s List of Certified Woman Business Enterprises (WBEs)
• Federation of Women Contractors (FWC) Members Directory
• Let’s Talk Womxn Chicago (food & beverage entrepreneurs)
• Cultivate Illinois
• Refine Collective

The State’s Women’s HERstory Month activities are presented by OMEE. OMEE plays a crucial role in providing support to women owned businesses of all sizes and types, including connection with grants, technical assistance, and incentives to bolster women and minority entrepreneurs and enterprises.

For more information on Women’s HERstory Month events or questions, contact Michelle Lura White, Women's Business Development Manager, at Michelle.White@illinois.gov. To learn more about ongoing resources and programs for businesses, follow DCEO on social media @IllinoisDCEO.