Bradley Technology Commercialization Center
The Bradley Technology Commercialization Center (BTCC) works with researchers, inventors, and entrepreneurs to transform new technologies and innovations into commercial enterprises.

 

Greater Peoria Economic Development Council
The Greater Peoria Economic Development Council, in collaboration with our local economic and workforce development professionals, drives economic growth in Greater Peoria through targeted business and talent development and attraction.

 

The Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber is the leading voice and resource for business in the region. This organization can assist you with business to business networking opportunities, educational events, advertising, and promotional opportunities, keep you informed on public policy issues, share information on key community issues and much more.
 

Angel Resource Institute 
ARI is a charitable organization that focuses on education and research in the field of angel investing. The link for entrepreneurs within its website includes information as it relates to angel investing.

 

Angel Capital Association
ACA is the North American trade association of angel groups and private investors that invest in high growth, early-stage ventures.

 

Kauffman Foundation
Our vision is to foster "a society of economically independent individuals who are engaged citizens, contributing to the improvement of their communities." In service of this vision, and in keeping with our founder's wishes, we focus our grant making and operations on two areas: advancing entrepreneurship and improving the education of children and youth. We carry out our mission through four programmatic areas: Entrepreneurship, Advancing Innovation, Education, and Research and Policy.

 

Illinois Technology Association 
The Illinois Technology Association (ITA) is committed to developing an environment in which technology companies can flourish in an increasingly competitive marketplace. The ITA is a regional industry trade association headquartered in Chicago and serving all of Illinois. The ITA provides members with access to connections, information and promotional opportunities to improve business locally, regionally and nationally.

 

Wisconsin Angel Network
Entrepreneurs who are raising capital for the first time should start here. On this web page, you will be able to earn your own "mini-MBA" on how to raise capital for your start-up.

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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Bradley University Illinois Small Business Development Center
The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Bradley University provides free business counseling and low-cost training programs for existing and startup businesses in Central Illinois.

 

Bradley NAFTA Opportunity Center
Since 1994, the NAFTA Opportunity Center has helped hundreds of Illinois companies capitalize on the potential of Free Trade Agreements around the world, including the state's two top export destinations - Canada and Mexico. Whether your company is new to international trade or already has established export markets, contact us to maximize your export potential.

 

Illinois Business Financial Services (IBFS)
Illinois Business Financial Services is a Certified Development Company (CDC) that works in cooperation with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) by packaging and submitting 504 and SOHO loan applications. By working with local banks, the SBA and the small business community, IBFS has played a major role in strengthening the Illinois economy and has helped generate..."The Money That Makes America Work."

 

Illinois CMS Bureau of Strategic Sourcing & Procurement
The Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP) is a grant program funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that assists Illinois communities by providing grants to local governments to help them in financing economic development projects, public facilities and housing rehabilitation. The program is targeted to assist low-to-moderate income persons by creating job opportunities and improving the quality of their living environment.

 

Illinois Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
The Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is the lead state agency responsible for improving Illinois' competitiveness in the global economy. Guided by an innovative regional approach, DCEO administers a wide range of economic and workforce development programs, services and initiatives designed to create and retain high-quality jobs and build strong communities. DCEO leads the Illinois economic development process in partnership with businesses, local governments, workers and families.

 

Illinois Energy and Recycling Program
The Bureau of Energy and Recycling seeks to demonstrate the economic development benefits, including job creation, of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and recycling through a variety of programs and services. Further, Bureau programs will demonstrate that economic development, sustainable energy, recycling practices, and environmental protection go hand in hand.

 

Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center (IMEC)
IMEC is a team of specialists who work with Illinois companies to be more productive and globally competitive. IMEC solutions help companies develop profitable business strategies, meet customer quality requirements, contain operating costs, increase capacity and on-time delivery, and solve technical operating problems such as product defects or process bottlenecks. Our focus is on preparing a company's internal team to accelerate improvement and achieve results that will stick -- long term.

 

International Trade Center at Bradley University
The Illinois SBDC International Trade Center at Bradley University has helped hundreds of Illinois companies take advantage of the potential of the international marketplace. The ITC expanded in 1994 to include the NAFTA Opportunity Center - one of only two in the state with a focus on Canada and Mexico. Working together, more than 500 companies have expanded their export sales by more than $80 million.

 

Professional Development Institute (PDI) at ICC
The Professional Development Institute at Illinois Central College is a comprehensive training organization whose mission is to serve businesses and individuals by providing both open enrollment and customized, in-house or on-site, quality seminars and workshops. Through our dedicated staff, state-of-the-art technology, and community and academic resources, we seek to continuously improve our programs and services to our customers.

 

SCORE: Counselors to America's Small Business
SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and the formation, growth, and success of small business nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SCORE has 370 chapters throughout the United States and its territories, with 11,200 volunteers nationwide. Both working and retired executives and business owners donate time and expertise as business counselors.

 

Small Business Administration (SBA), Springfield
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. We recognize that small business is critical to our economic recovery and strength, to building America's future, and to helping the United States compete in today's global marketplace. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands and Guam.

 

U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Peoria U.S. Export Assistance Center
The U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce is a federal government agency dedicated to helping small-to-medium sized companies with their exporting strategies.