ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
ACER supports the small and micro-businesses that are the economic backbone of BIPOC immigrant communities in the Northwestern suburbs. Our work includes connecting businesses to resources, providing free technical assistance and one-to-one business consulting, training for start-ups and new business owners, and distributing micro-grant funding and scholarships.
ACER's primary focus is to organize our business community. We want to advance culturally tailored wealth building strategies, encourage shared ownership models, and build generational wealth in our communities.
Business Services
Connecting entrepreneurs with experts
Whether you're a start-up entrepreneur or you have been operating for 25 years, ACER's business services connect business owners with resources and support businesses with their pressing needs.
We connect business owners to experts, at no cost to them, to support and coach them through a wide range of services that may be challenging for them to manage.
Trainings And Grants
Building capacity for entrepreneurs
With our partners, ACER hosts and supports training sessions for aspiring and current business owners. Training sessions teach best business practices and help business owners navigate the day-to-day operations of their businesses.
Through our micro-grants programs, we are able to reallocate resources to businesses. We issue grants to business owners with various needs who may have traditionally faced barriers in accessing grants. Grant opportunities are offered at varying times throughout the year.
Advocacy
Shifting the narrative
ACER works in partnership with business owners, government structures, and organizations within the business development ecosystem to push for structural and programmatic policy changes that support access to resources for BIPOC businesses and communities.
Innovation and Catalyst Center (ICC)
The purpose of ACER’s community development work is to promote, sustain, support, and maintain community action. Community members come together to take collective action and generate solutions for community wealth building.
Currently, we are working on creating Economic Hubs in the Northwest suburbs. These hubs will be intentional in providing direct funding to support community ownership models.
Coalitions and partnerships
ACER is a part of many coalitions, partnerships and tables that are focused on advocating for our community and ensuring that the community benefits from economic progress.
ACER is a part of the Blue Line Coalition (BLC), a group of community organizations focused on ensuring economic justice for our communities during the planning and construction of the Metro Blue Line light rail extension.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STORIES
