CEC AT WORK

The CEC's laser focus on revenue generation and business financing had such a profound impact on my ability to grow Spirian that, when I joined my new company, the first thing I did was meet with the CEC to see how I could work with the organization again.

• — Al Wasserberger

The Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (CEC) serves as a strategic partner to its clients, offering high value advisory services to entrepreneurs that help them negotiate crucial early-business decisions.

• We connect entrepreneurs with the resources and advice they need to grow at different stages of their businesses.
• We help them form strategic alliances that can become the backbone of their success.
• We assist clients through:
• one-on-one advisory services in financing and sales and client development.
• strategic advisory programs.
• peer-to-peer exchanges through virtually every service and educational opportunity offered by the center.
• educational workshops.
• grants.

The CEC is able to provide advisory services to clients through our designation by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity as an Entrepreneurship Center.

We work with high-growth entrepreneurs, primarily in the technology, retail and consumer products, professional services, fashion and apparel, food and food services and real estate industries. We help entrepreneurs located throughout the six counties of Northeastern Illinois. Our primary services are for entrepreneurs in the early-growth stage, though we also work with select start-ups and other businesses that are existing CEC clients.