The Illinois Power Agency (IPA) launched a dedicated Small and Emerging Business Hub (Hub) to centralize industry-specific information to help small and emerging businesses successfully navigate the clean energy sector. This Hub is a tool for Illinois’s small and emerging business community to connect with programs and resources that help them participate in the clean energy economy.
The Hub, which resides on the Energy Workforce Equity Portal, streamlines new and existing resources to small and emerging businesses navigating the solar landscape in Illinois. This includes information about the IPA’s solar incentive programs, step-by-step guidance on becoming Approved Vendors with Illinois Shines and Illinois Solar for All, benefits of participation, financial incentives, and support services to help small and emerging businesses navigate the programs and their requirements. The Hub also features many local, state, and federal resources, including business planning, entrepreneurial development, grants and funding, workforce training and human resources, and more. Small and emerging businesses can leverage the Hub’s wide range of materials to help them start and grow their businesses.
Some of the key features of the Hub include:
- A step-by-step guide to help prospective business owners and small businesses navigate the solar energy landscape in Illinois by providing essential information on business certification, market participation, and incentive program qualification requirements.
- Application process information for accessing Advancement of Capital for Equity Eligible Contractors in the Illinois Shines program, which ensures that contractors demonstrating need have access to the necessary funds to participate in renewable energy projects, thereby reducing upfront financial constraints and enabling a more level playing field for newer/smaller entities.
- Support services for qualified contractors and sub-contractors to facilitate successful participation in the Illinois Shines and Illinois Solar for All programs while minimizing barriers to entry.
- Clean energy trainings and programs targeted to diverse contractors working in ComEd and Ameren’s energy efficiency programs.
- One-on-one business advice for small & emerging businesses and start-ups at no cost through the Small Business Development Centers administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).
- Pro bono, one-on-one business advising for business owners offered through university consulting services.
- Wrap-around services to help small and emerging business owners in need of support.
- Consolidated information about grants and funding opportunities at federal, state, and local levels to help small and emerging businesses start and grow their businesses.
- Workforce and training programs that are targeted to help small and emerging businesses access a pipeline of skilled workers so they can stay competitive in the marketplace.
In the coming months, the Hub will be further developed with new tools and features to provide small and emerging businesses with additional resources.