Chicago (WLS) – Chicago started the National Business Week on Monday on the southern side of the city.
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Mayor Brandon Johnson spoke at *Play – Toys and Books, a new local store in Hyde Park. The store is part of the Hyde Park Vana stores from 55 Street.
“Shopping in your community will always return to ten times, we use your neighbors. We support local non -profit organizations and schools,” said the owner Ann Kinsel.
It was a boost to Chicago to spend consciousness and local to start the small national business week.
Johnson said: “To ensure that those who want to achieve their dreams succeed in launching and operating a small company in reality, so Chicago, let's get to shopping. And let us make sure that we are doing it locally,” Johnson said.
Local officials highlight the fact that small companies help create Chicago and build a strong local economy.
“When the residents shop and buy locally, it has a positive impact on the city,” said Ivan Capifali, Commissioner for Commercial Affairs and Consumer Protection in Chicago.
Small companies use nearly half of the country's workforce.
National Small Business Week continues until Friday, and is sponsored by the American Small Business Administration.
“SBA is pleased to celebrate small companies in Illinois, which nourishes local economies, creates job opportunities and building flexible societies,” said Welt Legrant, Director of SBA Illinois Province. “Not only you are the creators of jobs, you are the difference of the difference. You are the economic engine of this country.”
The Monday represents the beginning of the National Week of the Small Week 2025.
Illinois has more than 1.3 million small companies.
He visited the Sera -foot tour of the old town with Legant four small companies along the Wales Street.
In Kamehachi, there was a discussion between small business owners, the participation of information about financing options and a strategy about mobility in changes to the supply chain and global markets.
The tour also stopped at the Fudge container, which started in 1963.
With the volatility of cocoa prices, the fourth -generation candy maker said they depend on customers who choose locally to satisfy the sweet teeth.
“He supports your community, and he supports small families like Lee who want to do what we have trained to do, do all our lives and remains part of this society and still represents it,” said James Datalo, the owner of Fodge Bot.
The Ministry of Business and Consumer Protection in Chicago will host online seminars and enhance social efforts throughout the week.
Help old warriors
One of the small businesses seeks to help old warriors.
A business owners in Chicago help ancient warriors who have not been able to work and return to their feet.
“I just decided that there is one thing that we had to do to try to make a change in our time is going to work,” said Mark Doyle, the founder of the veteran.
Doyle creates functions that changed life for old warriors who face hardship. He spent a year in a war area, working as a contractor in Afghanistan.
“When I returned to Chicago in 2012, there were 2000 inventors of unlike warriors in Chicago. At that stage, we were 10 years after he became a war for 20 years. We started to see the high homelessness.”
Doyle got the work, and a clothing company run by ancient warriors at risk in Chicago began.
Rags of Honor has led to his new work, veteran roasted, a cafe in the episode.
The veteran in the US Navy runs the debts of the daily operations in the cafe.
“When I started, to what I am now, I am a completely different person. My view of life is a little better because I know that there is someone, and that there is an organization behind me.
Doyle estimates that he rented 120 warriors for his contract.
He says it is not a bulletin. It is just a hand for men and women who wore military uniform.
“I have grown up men saying” Can I give you a hug? “And start crying when I say these words: You have been appointed.”
“When you walk in this type of environment, you want to stay with it, and you want to be associated with it because the moment when you go, you feel something different. You have a reason and you have another task,” West said.
Doyle also helps to find residence for his workers. It is a partnership with a “safe haven”.
North Lawndale provides shelter and support services for many old warriors. It serves as an employment pipeline to work.
“They take the old warriors from the street. They sell them; they train them, and they get cooking certificates. We rent the old warriors; therefore, it has become the ideal partnership.”
It is not just a job, it's personal. The veteran roasted employees say they are inspired by Dowle, and they are enhanced by a culture of respect and support.
“It is a work family. It is not like the relationship of the president and the employee. It is more than one family here, and I love it,” said Veteran in the US Navy, Rose Hanks, Parista in the old warriors. “This job meant a lot for me because of what it represents. There are not many jobs that are offered to old warriors to help other old warriors.”
“We will not change the entire world, but we were changing the world around us. It was so simple: How do we make a difference, where we live, for the old warriors in need?” Doyle said.
Doyle has plans to expand the roasters of old warriors in the Pullman neighborhood. The 17,000 square feet site will include a commercial roofing facility, Brewpub and Cafe.
This work will allow him to employ 60 warriors.
Through government financing and the city grant, they are scheduled to open this summer and open the day of the old warriors next year.
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