For the last 60 years, National Small Business Week has acknowledged and celebrated those who have made a difference in their community.
Oak Park took part in the celebration for the first time from May 3 through 9 with a week of events.
The village hosted a panel discussion Wednesday that offered advice on starting a small business in Oak Park.
A little more than a dozen people learned about the many steps required before they can hang up their “We’re open” signs.
Seven speakers shared information on the different licenses and permits business owners must have, and advised it’s better to rent a space when first starting out.
Nicole Nodi, the economic vitality administrator for the village, said she was excited with the inaugural offerings and said up to 50 people came to events.
Nodi said organizers did not want to overhwelm people with information or make potential business owners feel alone in the process of getting started.
“Oak Park is really supportive of small business owners, and we want to show them that everyday,” Nodi said. “But we hear from them, we take their feedback, we hear what they’re worried about and what they’re excited about and that’s how we can build a week like this around what they tell us.”
Michael Mertes, another economic vitality administrator, said while people bring their visions to life, Oak Park wants to be a part of it and help make sure people are successful.
There are more than 1,500 businesses in Oak Park, Mertes said, and the week gives people an opportunity to connect and help one another.
Jesse Wilson, who attended an event Wednesday, said he grew tired of people telling him what to do. He grew tired of the grueling hours and the excessive travelling that his accounting job required, so he decided to make a change.
Last March, Wilson, 28, opened his own tax business, Wilson CPA Services, and said things have been going well.
Wilson said he attended events all week and took notes. He said he joined the Chamber of Commerce, which has about 550 members, according to panelists at the event, and has been able to network and expand his business.
The following events were held during the week:
- Resources for Women & Minority-Owned Business Enterprises
- Small Business Funding & Finance
- Starting Your Own Small Business in Oak Park
- Small Business Community Resource Breakfast
Nodi said after seeing how many people engaged, she plans to do more programs.
“We see people want information, they want connections, so we can start to build out more programming that gets people through the year and bridge the gap between this National Small Business Week and the next one,” Nodi said.
chardy@chicagotribune.com
