Starting a Business Resource Guide

This Resource Guide is designed to provide access to information needed to start or grow a business in Freeport and Stephenson County. It includes many links to documents and websites that will assist in answering questions for someone to open their business. The Starting a Business Resource Guide is designed to provide you with access to information and resources to make your entrepreneurial journey more successful!

More information on the Small Business Resource Guide, click here.

PODCASTS

Synapse: A Business & Lifestyle Podcast – The Greater Freeport Partnership’s podcast series featuring highlights on entrepreneurs as well as community activities and life enrichment.

Innov8 & Cr8  – Transform Rockford’s Podcast for Innovators, Creatives and Entrepreneurs to hear stories from other entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship business support agencies.

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER (SBDC)

Illinois Small Business Development Centers are located throughout the state and provide information, confidential business guidance, training and other resources to start-up and existing small businesses.
Contact:
Illinois Small Business Development Center – Rock Valley College
Woodward Technology Center
3301 N. Mulford
Rockford, IL 61114
Nate Jordan
Email:  m.wright@rockvalleycollege.edu
Phone: 815-921-4076

HIGHLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Affordable, Quality, Business Solutions
Highland Community College (HCC) offers a number of business classes including introduction to business, accounting, personal finance, computer skills, lifelong learning classes and more. The HCC Business Institute provides relevant content and practical results-oriented training and consulting solutions including:
Customized Training: The Business Institute provides customized training and business solutions for companies.
Partnering for Solutions: Their staff and instructors work closely with your company to identify, evaluate, and prioritize specific workforce challenges and needs.
One-Stop Shop: Business Institute designs and provides solutions for your company through consultations, assessments, coaching, training, and more.
Increased Production: Targeted services bring greater efficiency and productivity to your organization, while satisfying company goals.
Convenience Plus: Employers may choose to conduct training at their workplace, Highland Community College, or at any other site when it is convenient for them.
Contact: 815-291-6981 or e-mail:  businessinstitute@highland.edu for more information on how they can help meet your training needs.
Highland Community College
Business Institute
2998 W. Pearl City Rd
Freeport, IL 61032
Scott Anderson, Dean of Business & Technology
Email:  scott.anderson@highland.edu
Phone: 815-599-3604
Source: Highland Community College Business Institute, 2017

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE & ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY (DCEO)

The Illinois DCEO Office of Business Development administers a wide array of programs and services designed to help Illinois businesses thrive in today’s economy. They offer expansion incentives, technology support services, access to capital, global marketing expertise, and job training and education for workers. Their trained staff is committed to forging partnerships with the private sector in an effort to build upon Illinois’ reputation as a world class center for business and industry. This includes a strong emphasis on programs designed to provide small businesses — particularly minority and female entrepreneurs — with the resources they need to succeed and grow their business opportunities.
Contact:
First Stop Business Information Center
Illinois Department of Commerce
500 E. Monroe
Springfield, IL. 62701-1643
Phone: 800-252-2923
Email: ienconnect@mailmw.custhelp.com
Source: Illinois DCEO Business Assistance, 2017

EIGERlab

EIGERlab ties together INNOVATION-COLLABORATION-ENTREPRENEURSHIP into a centrally located, state of the art mixed-use incubator, serving the region with leading edge business and engineering support services.
The facility and programs assist in developing a robust and diverse entrepreneurial culture through the collaboration of education, business and government.
Focused to assist start up, early stage growth and expanding existing businesses, EIGERlab serves as a one-stop resource for entrepreneurs and innovators to lease space at reasonable rates, participate in peer groups, access business services, utilize design engineering and art-to-part rapid prototyping services, learn new skills, meet with dedicated mentors, link to qualified investors and receive assistance in selling to the government or executing global market expansions.
EIGERlab’s new accelerator program combines virtual and onsite services and programming specifically targeted at advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and alternative energy commercialization.

Using National Business Incubator Association’s (NBIA) programming, EIGERlab combines policies, procedures and programming with the necessary service infrastructure to accelerate innovation.
You are welcome to come explore and join them to advance your business idea into a growing enterprise. They look forward to meeting you!

Contact:
EIGERlab
8500 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
Tina Leombruni, Administrative Assistant
Tleombruni@eigerlab.org
(815) 965-3522
Source: EIGERlab, 2020

SCORE

SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship. You can access the resources at SCORE at score.org.