Aurora, IL – U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL-13) and the Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce today hosted a Small Business Fair to connect professionals from area businesses with opportunities to find new markets for their products and services.  Nearly 150 professionals attended the event to receive guidance on exporting, learn about grant and contracting opportunities, get help with access to credit, and fine-tune their grant-writing skills.

            “With so much uncertainty coming out of Washington, building up a small business is daunting, and we want to make sure that local employers can take advantage of every opportunity to grow,” said Biggert. “Today’s Fair was designed to open doors for local job creators and connect them with resources they may not know exist.  Small business leaders spoke one-on-one with representatives from government agencies and learned more about how to tap into new markets abroad and to navigate the federal contract and grant process.”

           Agencies that highlighted economic opportunities at the event included: the Department of Commerce, Export Import Bank, General Services Administration, Illinois Central Management Services, the Small Business Administration, City of Aurora’s Purchasing Department and many more.

            “We are truly committed to uncovering opportunities and availing them to our member businesses in an effort to help them grow and sustain what they’ve worked so hard to create,” said Joseph B Henning, IOM, ACE, President and CEO of Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce.  “Being at the table and bringing people together at events such as today’s business fair are just some of the ways that we can try to be a part a larger solution.  We realize small business is important to our nation’s economic recovery.”

           “Jobs and economic growth are my top priority,” said Biggert.  “Here in Illinois, it’s our small businesses that drive economic growth.  Instead of threatening small businesses with new taxes and costly regulations, we should be focused on empowering entrepreneurs to thrive.  That’s what today’s Small Business Fair was all about.” 

           At the Small Business Fair, individuals attended a series of workshops that were available throughout the day, including “Building Small Business Capacity for the 21^st Century” offered by the General Services Administration; “What You Really Need to Know About Finding and Securing Grant Money,” offered by the American Association of Grant Professionals; “Alternative Financing Options for Your Small Business” offered by Accion; “Doing Business with the City,” offered by the City of Aurora; and more. 

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