As National Business Women’s Week is recognized across the country, Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza is reminding women entrepreneurs about opportunities available to help them grow and compete for state contracts. The Illinois Office of Comptroller’s ‘SMART’ Business Program offers free guidance and one-on-one counseling for business owners who want to become certified as a small business or women-owned business with the state.

Through certification, business owners can become eligible for procurement plans specifically set aside for women and small businesses. The program is designed to make it easier for local entrepreneurs to connect with state agencies, bid on contracts, and gain the kind of steady business that helps build credibility and financial stability over time. The SMART Business Program provides individualized support throughout the certification process, helping business owners knock out necessary paperwork and meet state requirements.

Mendoza said her goal is to help women across the state take advantage of the program that now exists thanks to Illinois’ improved fiscal position and reputation. According to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, more than half a million women-owned businesses operate in Illinois, employing over 661,000 people and generating roughly $165 billion in annual revenue.

More information and registration details are available on the Comptroller’s website at www.illinoiscomptroller.gov., under “Smart Business Illinois.”