West Cook Business Alliance

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What an incredible celebration of Black entrepreneurship during National Black Business Month, economic empowerment, and...
08/18/2026

What an incredible celebration of Black entrepreneurship during National Black Business Month, economic empowerment, and opportunity! The West Cook Business Alliance continues grow across the region.

A tremendous THANK YOU to Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch for hosting the Black Business Empowerment Expo and continuing to use his leadership to create pathways for Black entrepreneurs, small businesses, and aspiring business owners to start, strengthen, scale, and sustain their businesses. Thank you Mayor Nathaniel George Booker, Mayor Katrina Thompson, and Mayor Andre Harvey for your continued partnership.

This was more than an expo—it was about putting information, resources, relationships, access to capital, and opportunity directly into the hands of our community. JOIN US bit.ly/westcookba

Thank you to the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Black Contractors Owners & Executives, Chicago Transit Authority, and more for partnering with Speaker Welch to make this powerful day possible. It takes government, business, community organizations, financial institutions, and entrepreneurs working together to build an ecosystem where Black businesses can thrive.

We also extend our appreciation to every presenter, panelist, subject-matter expert, and resource partner who poured their knowledge into our entrepreneurs through sessions focused on:

🔹 Empowering the Future: A Unified Call to Black Business Growth
🔹 Funding with Confidence: Mastering Accountability & GATA Readiness
🔹 Unlocking Opportunity: Essential Resources for Business Expansion
🔹 Discover IL: CJIA Programs and Resources
🔹 Certified for Success: Opening Doors to New Contracting Opportunities
🔹 Fueling Growth: Advantage Illinois Loan Program Pathway
🔹 Built to Last: Longevity, Legacy & Succession Planning for Black Businesses

When Black businesses grow, families build wealth, commercial corridors become stronger, jobs are created, neighborhoods are revitalized, and communities prosper.

The goal cannot simply be to help Black businesses open their doors. We must build the infrastructure that helps them access capital, secure contracts, expand operations, create jobs, build generational wealth, and remain open for generations.

Black Business is Black Excellence.
Black Business is Economic Empowerment.
Black Business is Community Development.
Black Business is Generational Wealth.

Now let's take the information, connections, and opportunities from this Expo and turn them into ACTION, GROWTH & LEGACY!

JOIN US bit.ly/westcookba

🎉 The West Cook Business Alliance Industries & Insights was a Success!!! Thank you to every business owner, entrepreneur...
07/01/2026

🎉 The West Cook Business Alliance Industries & Insights was a Success!!!

Thank you to every business owner, entrepreneur, elected official, community leader, corporate partner, nonprofit organization, and resident who joined us for the WCBA's Industries & Insights Networking Mixer at The View 1701 in partnership with Mayor Nathaniel George Booker, Mayor Katrina Thompson, and Mayor Andre Harvey.

Because of your participation, we demonstrated exactly what is possible when the West Cook region comes together with a shared vision for economic growth and regional collaboration.

🤝 New business relationships were established.
💼 Entrepreneurs connected with potential clients, partners, and investors.
💡 Innovative ideas and industry insights were shared across multiple sectors.
🌍 Regional collaboration continued to grow throughout West Cook and beyond.
✈️ Excitement built around our upcoming October 2026 International Business Mission to China, creating new opportunities for global partnerships.
🏛️ Public, private, and nonprofit leaders came together to strengthen our regional economy.
🚀 This Is Just the Beginning

The West Cook Business Alliance is committed to building an ecosystem where businesses don't simply survive, they grow, scale, collaborate, and thrive.

Together we are:
✅ Retaining Existing Businesses
✅ Attracting New Investment
✅ Supporting Entrepreneurs
✅ Creating Jobs
✅ Expanding Regional Partnerships
✅ Building Global Opportunities

Thank you for believing in the vision and being part of a movement that is transforming West Cook into one of the region's premier places to live, work, invest, and do business.

More Connections. More Opportunities. More Growth.

Learn more at www.westcookba.org

Thank you everyone for attending the West Cook Business Alliance (WCBA) 1st networking event celebrating Community Banki...
04/30/2026

Thank you everyone for attending the West Cook Business Alliance (WCBA) 1st networking event celebrating Community Banking and Financial Literacy Month!

JOIN TODAY bit.ly/westcookba

Mayor Nathaniel George Booker (Maywood , IL) noted, “We are not only acknowledging the strength of our entrepreneurs, but we are also building the infrastructure to support all businesses long-term.”

For regional leaders, the WCBA formalizes what has long been understood: thriving businesses depend on coordinated systems, not isolated programs. “For too long, our communities have competed for opportunity when we should have been coordinating for prosperity,” said Mayor Katrina Thompson (Broadview , IL). “The West Cook Business Alliance reflects a new posture, one rooted in partnership, stewardship, and regional coordination. We are building a structure that ensures businesses of every size have a seat at the table and a pathway to succeed.”

The WCBA has been intentionally structured as a professional, membership-driven association serving municipalities and businesses throughout West Cook County. Its goal is clear: to retain existing businesses, attract new investment, and create a regional ecosystem that supports enterprises at every stage of growth. Unlike siloed economic efforts, the WCBA is designed as a unified platform to reduce intermunicipal competition and foster coordinated economic strategy.

The organization is increasing cross-sector partnerships among municipalities, anchor institutions, and private industry. WCBA provides direct support to businesses advocating placemaking strategies that strengthen commercial corridors and residential neighborhoods along with backing effective pro-business policies across local, county, state, and federal government. “Regional collaboration is not optional in today’s economy,” Bellwood Mayor Andre Harvey stated. “It is essential. The WCBA positions our communities to move in the same direction with clarity and purpose. Membership is open to businesses of all sizes, nonprofit organizations, institutions, and strategic partners committed to strengthening the West Cook economy.

Thank you Liberty Bank Forest Park, Fifth Third Bank, BMO U.S., Republic Bank of Chicago, Proviso Community Bank, Chase for being great community partners and supporting.

JOIN TODAY bit.ly/westcookba
LEARN MORE www.westcookba.org

WEST COOK BUSINESS ALLIANCE LAUNCHES AS A REGIONAL INITIAITVE TO STRENGTHEN, COORDINATE, AND ADVANCE WEST SUBURBAN ECONO...
04/30/2026

WEST COOK BUSINESS ALLIANCE LAUNCHES AS A REGIONAL INITIAITVE TO STRENGTHEN, COORDINATE, AND ADVANCE WEST SUBURBAN ECONOMY

JOIN TODAY bit.ly/westcookba

Maywood, Il - The official announcement of the West Cook Business Alliance (WCBA) in partnership with the Villages Maywood, Broadview, and Bellwood was made on Friday, February 20, during the Annual Black Business Expo held in Maywood. The Expo served as a powerful backdrop for the regional unveiling. The event brought together entrepreneurs, corporate partners, financial institutions, community leaders, and residents in a shared celebration of Black enterprise, innovation, and economic empowerment. Mayor Nathaniel George Booker (Maywood, IL) noted that the setting was both intentional and symbolic. “Launching the West Cook Business Alliance during the Black Business Expo reflects our commitment to inclusive economic growth,” Booker said. “We are not only acknowledging the strength of our entrepreneurs, but we are also building the infrastructure to support all businesses long-term.”

Born out of the continued evolution and relevance of the Healthy Maywood West Cook Foundation, the West Cook Business Alliance represents a strategic expansion of the region’s commitment to long-term vitality. The Alliance builds upon the 12 Elements of Healthy Communities as identified by the US Department of Health & Human Services, recognizing that economic health is inseparable from workforce stability, public safety, neighborhood vibrancy, and access to opportunity. For regional leaders, this initiative formalizes what has long been understood: thriving businesses depend on coordinated systems, not isolated programs. “For too long, our communities have competed for opportunity when we should have been coordinating for prosperity,” said Mayor Katrina Thompson (Broadview, IL). “The West Cook Business Alliance reflects a new posture, one rooted in partnership, stewardship, and regional coordination. We are building a structure that ensures businesses of every size have a seat at the table and a pathway to succeed.”
The WCBA has been intentionally structured as a professional, membership-driven association serving municipalities and businesses throughout West Cook County. Its goal is clear: to retain existing businesses, attract new investment, and create a regional ecosystem that supports enterprises at every stage of growth. Unlike siloed economic efforts, the WCBA is designed as a unified platform to reduce intermunicipal competition and foster coordinated economic strategy. The organization will increase cross-sector partnerships among municipalities, anchor institutions, and private industry. WCBA will provide direct support to businesses advocating placemaking strategies that strengthen commercial corridors and residential neighborhoods along with backing effective pro-business policies across local, county, state, and federal government. “Regional collaboration is not optional in today’s economy,” Mayor Andre Harvey (Bellwood, IL) stated. “It is essential. The West Cook Business Alliance positions our communities to move in the same direction with clarity and purpose. Membership will be open to businesses of all sizes, nonprofit organizations, institutions, and strategic partners committed to strengthening the West Cook economy. Founding member recruitment and regional roundtables will commence immediately.

The West Cook Business Alliance (WCBA) is a regional business member association dedicated to retaining, attracting, and investing in businesses across West Cook County. Grounded in the 12 Elements of a Healthy Communities framework and emerging from the Healthy Maywood West Cook initiative, WCBA provides technical assistance, advocacy, network development, and coordinated economic strategy to strengthen the region’s long-term competitiveness and shared prosperity.

JOIN TODAY bit.ly/westcookba
LEARN MORE www.westcookba.org

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Maywood, IL
60153

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