Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Reaffirm Support for Small Business Community at the Start of the New Year

Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Reaffirm Support for Small Business Community at the Start of the New Year

Efforts include 2026 Chicago Small Biz Expos, business education webinars and promoting Chicago's small business community.

CHICAGO - As the new year begins, Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) reaffirm their commitment to supporting local businesses and fostering a strong, resilient economic environment for business owners, works and consumers in Chicago. Small businesses are vital to the city as they create jobs, serve residents and visitors, and contribute to vibrant neighborhoods. Recognizing this impact, the City remains focused on ensuring that small businesses have access to the resources, guidance and support needed to succeed.

"Local businesses are the backbone of our city's economy and the heart of our neighborhoods," said Mayor Brandon Johnson. "As we enter the new year, I remain focused on providing practical support, encouraging growth, and maintaining fair and transparent oversight through BACP as part of our commitment to building a safer, more affordable Chicago."

"We know that starting a new year brings opportunities for current and prospective business owners," said BACP Commissioner Ivan Capifali. "Our goal is to make sure businesses feel supported, informed and confident as they plan for the months ahead. Small businesses are essential to the continued growth and stability of our city and we remain committed to working collaboratively with the small business community."

BACP efforts include:  

• 2026 Chicago Small Biz Expos: BACP brings free business resources to the community for new and existing entrepreneurs, such as City of Chicago business licensing consultants, tax clinic, financial advisors, workshops, professional headshots, networking and more. To learn more, visit Chicago.gov/BizExpo.
• • Thursday, March 12 at 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. held remotely
  • Saturday, May 16 at 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. held at Truman College, 1145 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago
  • Saturday, August 29 at 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. held at Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago
• Webinars: BACP offers free business education webinars every Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning. Topics include business licensing, operations, financial resources, marketing, and more. Programs are free, hosted online and open to the public and taught by industry professionals, not-for-profit agencies, and government agencies. To register and view upcoming webinars, visit Chicago.gov/BACPWebinars.
• BACP Entrepreneur Certificate Program: A free program for anyone interested in starting or growing a business in Chicago to gain knowledge across various essential business topics. Program participants must enroll in the program and after attending six BACP webinars in select categories within six months are provided a program certificate. All program graduates, who are eligible may apply for the Entrepreneur Loan Program with BACP's partner, CIBC Bank USA and receive Credit for Prior Learning college credit with City Colleges of Chicago. To learn more and register, visit Chicago.gov/BACPCertificate.
• Cut the Tape for Small Business: The City is continuing to address top concerns while focusing on improving City processes and programs by reducing both cost and time burdens and barriers that small businesses face across our neighborhood corridors. The initiative is designed to serve as both a strategic framework and a long-term resource for the small business ecosystem. To learn more, visit Chicago.gov/CutTheTape.
• Shop Local Chicago campaign: The campaign outlines the benefits of shopping local such as the shopping experience, workforce contribution, and local economy boost. To learn more about the ongoing campaign, visit Chicago.gov/ShopLocal.   

The efforts are designed to help businesses navigate compliance requirements, adapt to changing economic conditions and explore new growth opportunities. These efforts are part of a strategy to promote economic stability and innovation. Businesses are encouraged to review current regulations, take advantage of available resources, and stay informed through official City communications.

Last year, the Johnson administration rolled out Cut the Tape for Small Business, a comprehensive effort to update and streamline the City's administrative processes in service of making it faster and easier to open and operate a small business in Chicago. Building on the success of Mayor Johnson's Cut the Tapeinitiative, which has advanced more than 100 concrete actions to streamline and expedite housing and commercial development processes, the new program is designed to uplift and empower small businesses across Chicago while building upon the Johnson administration's long-standing work to support entrepreneurs and business owners.

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