The EEC Program was created in 2023 by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) Office of Equity and Economic Empowerment (OE3). EECs are designed to address the need for customized local, community and cultural support for socially and economically disadvantaged-owned enterprises (SEDI) and micro-enterprises (VSBs). Through this new program, an EEC will create an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem for marginalized communities that have traditionally faced systemic barriers to entry and growth through dynamic partnerships, targeted outreach and customized training programs and initiatives.

For several years, GROW/PROGRESANDO graduates who were or became business owners have requested that we develop an advanced level of the program. It has become common for our graduates to repeat the program more than once in their quest for a deeper understanding of the principles and practices of entrepreneurship. This call for more advanced training in business development and management inspired RPBA to apply for funding to launch and operate an EEC.

RPBA believes that a dedicated EEC for existing business owners who meet the eligibility criteria and share the demographics of our service area will be a critical and necessary resource. Many of these individuals have been unable to adapt their business models or respond effectively to new realities as they face economic and other difficulties. RPBA’s EEC takes into account structural, systemic, language, technology access and other barriers that prevent them from accessing capital, resources and information. The EEC represents an opportunity for RPBA to provide a high-impact resource: an advanced entrepreneurship training curriculum for existing business owners, a segment that often receives insufficient attention within the business services ecosystem.