Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice for America’s 32.5 million small businesses in President Biden’s Cabinet, announced that National Small Business Week (NSBW): Building a Better America Through Entrepreneurship will take place May 1-7, 2022. The virtual summit will acknowledge small businesses from across the country for their resilience, ingenuity, and creativity. It will also recognize SBA partners for their involvement in entrepreneurial development, disaster recovery, government contracting, financial development, and overall support for small businesses and entrepreneurship.   

“National Small Business Week is a time to honor and celebrate America’s entrepreneurs and innovative startups. This year’s theme, ‘Building a Better America through Entrepreneurship,’ celebrates the resiliency and tenacity of America’s entrepreneurs who are doing their part to power our nation’s historic economic comeback,” said Administrator Guzman. “While there is more work to do, under the Biden-Harris Administration, we are on a path toward building a better, more competitive American economy centered around families, workers, and small businesses. This year’s NSBW will offer entrepreneurs in rural, suburban, and urban communities across America a week-long event that will highlight the tools and information they need to continue to power our economic growth, strengthen our supply chains, and deliver the products and services Americans depend on every day.  I look forward to recognizing our small business giants and their tremendous impact on our economy and communities across the nation.” 

The SBA will co-host a free, four-day virtual summit from May 2 through May 5, 2022, along with SCORE, to honor the nation’s 32.5 million small businesses for their perseverance. This year’s summit will feature access to critical federal resources, educational workshops, and networking to help our nation’s entrepreneurs pivot and grow in the face of any challenge, seize new opportunities, and make sure the dream of starting a small business is in reach for every American.   

“We look forward to joining the SBA in co-hosting this important virtual summit during National Small Business Week,” said SCORE CEO Bridget Weston. “For anyone thinking about starting or growing a small business, this event will connect entrepreneurs with a wealth of industry experts and crucial information to help them achieve success.”   

The 2022 Small Business Persons of the Year award winners from each state, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, will be honored, and the SBA will announce the 2022 National Small Business Person of the Year from among the state winners represented. In addition, National Small Business Week recognitions and educational sessions will occur throughout each of the SBA’s 10 regions and 68 district offices.    

Details on National Small Business Week event registration and speaker information will be announced later and posted on www.sba.gov/NSBW.     

Members and prospective members of The Parks Chamber are invited to join us via Zoom on the first Wednesday of every month at 11:00 AM to learn more about the chamber, our events, and the benefits of membership. 

Advance registration is requested, and the Zoom link with dial-in details are provided below:

• Join Zoom Meeting:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83698309372
• Meeting ID:  836 9830 9372
• One tap mobile:  +13126266799,,83698309372#
• Dial by phone:  312-626-6799

• 4:00 PM:  Networking Begins
• 4:30 PM:  Welcome & Featured Speakers
• 5:15 PM:  Networking Resumes

MAY 18 FEATURED SPEAKER: 
“State of the State” by Illinois State Representative Joe Sosnowski


State Representative Joe Sosnowski represents Illinois’ 69th District, which includes portions of Boone and Winnebago Counties. A member of the Illinois General Assembly since 2011, He is an advocate for families, taxpayers, and job creators throughout the Stateline region. Representative Sosnowski is a graduate of Northern Illinois University. He was twice elected to the Rockford City Council, where he served as First Ward Alderman until being elected to the Illinois House of Representatives. He was also Director of Institutional Advancement at Rockford Christian Schools until 2020. Joe is a member of Stateline Community Church and lives in Rockford with his wife, Roxanne, and their three children.

• Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity: DCEO provide targeted referrals and counseling for economic opportunities to businesses, including site selection; customized workforce training; regional and local collaboration; expedited permitting, licensing and other approvals; connection to key stakeholders and civic and business partners; and potential financial support to include small businesses recovery grants for those hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Illinois Small Business Development Center: The SBDC provides information, confidential business guidance, training, and other resources for start-ups and existing small businesses to include free and confidential business advising, a professional referral network, access to capital, technology development, assistance to minority business owners, and more.
• The Workforce Connection: TWC is the local workforce development board that provides a fully integrated and accessible workforce development system that balances the needs of individuals and businesses to ensure our region has a skilled workforce to effectively compete in the global economy. TWC provides regional employers in Boone, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties with business services that make organizations more competitive, improve productivity, create new revenue streams, and improve acquisition and retention of valued employees.
• U.S. Commercial Service: The U.S. Commercial Service recently hired a Director of International Trade, who provides free and confidential support to businesses in the Northwest Illinois territory by promoting trade, exports, and investment to help U.S. organizations compete at home and abroad.