Success strategy seminars offered by Shorewood Chamber
By Clare Walters Correspondent January 21, 2013 11:30AM
Updated: February 28, 2013 6:18AM
The Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce is hoping a new series of seminars will help local businesses boom.
The chamber began its Success Strategies series Jan. 19 and will continue to host the free, open-to-the-public seminars on the third Saturday of every month for the balance of the year.
Chamber Executive Director Denise Schmidt said the seminars are designed for businesses of any size but will be particularly beneficial to small businesses that don’t necessarily have the staff or expertise to be able to consider or manage these topics on their own.
“We want to be that resource for them so they don’t have to put money into having that position,” she said.
The first seminar focused on the process of becoming a certified state of Illinois contractor as part of the comptroller’s POWER Program. The program is an initiative designed to empower small and minority-owned business to compete for state contracts.
While area businesses might not have the interest or ability to bid on state jobs, Schmidt said they could compete on local or smaller regional projects. But in order to do so, they first must be certified.
There was no application fee, mentoring charge or processing fee associated with certification through the comptroller’s program.
Upcoming Success Strategies seminars include lessons in marketing, networking, organization and business planning.
April’s seminar will focus of village of Shorewood ordinances, codes and zoning rules.
“It’s, ‘How do you play within the rules to benefit your business?’” Schmidt said.
Village staff have made “a very concerted” effort to work with local businesses and the chamber, she said.
“We want you to be a healthy business partner in the area,” she said. “If we have a better-educated business core, everyone benefits.”
The seminars take place at the Shorewood Village Hall, One Towne Center Blvd. For a list of seminars or to register, visit www.shorewoodchamber.com or call 815-725-2900.
