The Illinois Office of Comptroller is highlighting programs available to help small businesses in the state.  It comes on the heels of National Small Business Week, which ran from May 4-10. 

One service is the Smart Business Program.  This offering teaches business owners about the state’s certification and procurement processes and provides counseling on state contract opportunities.  State contracts are also the focus of the Small Business Set-Aside Program.  Finally, the Business Enterprise Program walks business owners through publicly certifying their businesses as minority/women/veteran/disabled-owned.  Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza says these programs will help businesses bid on state contracts.

The Office of Comptroller recommends that business owners complete the Small Business Set-Aside Program – the registration for which can be found on www.illinoiscomptroller.gov – before entering the Business Enterprise Program.  To register for the Smart Business Program, owners can call Julie Ayres at (312) 814-0034.