The Entrepreneur's Chamber Playbook

Chapter 01

The State of Minority Entrepreneurship in America

In 2023, more than 5.5 million new business applications were submitted in the United States. Entrepreneurship is surging across every community. Yet the data reveals a persistent and troubling gap: while minority communities are launching businesses at record rates, the revenues generated by those businesses do not match the ambition behind them.

At the 2026 Business & Leadership Conference hosted by the Joseph Business School in Chicago, the leaders of three major Chambers of Commerce came together for a landmark panel discussion. Their message was clear: the resources exist, the doors are opening, and the only thing missing is you walking through them.

The Disparity at a Glance

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Annual Business Survey (2022-2023), SBA Office of Advocacy (2024), Pew Research (2025), Brookings Institution, Third Way

Group	Share of U.S. Population	Share of Businesses Owned	Share of Total Business Revenue	The Gap
White	58%	84% of classifiable firms	92% of all business revenue	+34 pts over population share
Black / African American	14.4%	3.3% of employer firms	1% of all business revenue	−13.4 pts below population share
Hispanic / Latino	19.5%	14.5% of business owners	~6% of all business revenue	−13.5 pts below population share
Asian American / Pacific Islander	6.4%	11.5% of employer firms	~8% ($1.2T of $15T+)	+5.1 pts above population share
Native American / Alaska Native	2%	1.2% of all firms	<0.5% ($66.9B total)	−1.5 pts below population share
Women (all races)	51% of adults	39.2% of all businesses	6.2% of all business revenue	−44.8 pts below population share

Let Those Numbers Sink In

14.4% → 1%

Black Americans are 14.4% of the population but their businesses generate only 1% of total business revenue. Over half of Black-owned businesses earn less than $100,000 per year. The average Black-owned employer firm generates ~$1.09M in revenue vs. ~$3.54M for the average white-owned employer firm.

19.5% → ~6%

Hispanics represent 19.5% of the population and are the fastest-growing segment of business owners (44% growth from 2018-2023). Yet their businesses generate only about 6% of total revenue. 89% of Latino businesses have fewer than 20 employees.

6.4% → 11.5%

Asian Americans are 6.4% of the population but own 11.5% of employer firms — nearly double their population share. They generate $1.2 trillion in receipts and employ 5.2 million people. The outlier success story — but concentration in food services (22%) creates vulnerability.

51% → 6.2%

Women are 51% of the adult population and own 39.2% of businesses (14.5M firms), yet generate only 6.2% of total business revenue. Women-owned businesses earn just 40¢ for every $1 earned by men-owned businesses. That's a $10 trillion revenue gap.

2% → <0.5%

Native Americans are 2% of the population but own only 1.2% of firms generating less than 0.5% of business revenue ($66.9B). Only 36% of Native-owned businesses get fully approved for financing vs. 58% of white-owned businesses.

81.9%

Of all small businesses in the U.S. are non-employer firms — solopreneurs with zero employees. 28.5 million businesses with no employees. Most earn under $100,000/year. The path from solopreneur to employer is where chambers make the biggest difference.

60%

Less likely a person of color will receive a business loan vs. white counterpart

$3.54M

Avg revenue per white-owned employer firm

$1.09M

Avg revenue per Black-owned employer firm

66%

Revenue growth of Black-owned firms 2017-2022 — the surge is real

The data tells two stories simultaneously. The first is a story of systemic disparity — gaps in capital access, contract distribution, and business revenue that have persisted for generations. The second is a story of explosive growth — minority business ownership is surging at rates that far outpace the general population. Black-owned employer firms grew 50% from 2017-2022. Hispanic-owned firms grew 44% from 2018-2023. Women started nearly half of all new businesses in 2024.

The gap is not about ambition or ability. It is about access — access to capital, contracts, networks, and knowledge. And that is exactly what Chambers of Commerce exist to provide. This guide is not about the problems. It is about the solutions.

We're not here to talk about the problems. We're here to solve them. We take dominion. And the way we take dominion is we don't talk about the problems — we solve them.

— Dr. Deloris Thomas, President, Joseph Business School | Harvard MBA | Kraft Foods & Sears Veteran

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Chapter 02

Why Chambers of Commerce Are Your Secret Weapon

More Than Networking Events

Most entrepreneurs think of Chambers of Commerce as places to exchange business cards over breakfast. The reality is far more powerful. Chambers are advocacy engines, procurement pipelines, certification navigators, and capital access facilitators — all rolled into one membership.

As Dr. Larry Ivory of the Illinois Black Chamber put it: they serve on committees appointed by the governor, sit on procurement councils, and fight to ensure minority-owned businesses receive a fair share of government contracts worth billions of dollars.

The Four Pillars of Chamber Value

During the panel, Dr. Thomas identified four critical areas where chambers make the difference between a business that survives and one that scales:

1. Access to Capital

Chambers connect you to lenders, bonding companies, grant programs, and alternative financing that banks won't tell you about.

2. Access to Opportunity

Government contracts, corporate supplier diversity programs, private sector RFPs — chambers know where the money is flowing.

3. Access to Networks

Relationships with decision-makers, elected officials, procurement officers, and corporate buyers that take years to build alone.

4. Access to Knowledge

Understanding the rules, regulations, certification processes, and sheltered market programs that can unlock millions in contracts.

There's no discrimination when it comes to paying taxes. There ought to be no discrimination when it comes to getting contracts.

— Dr. Larry Ivory, President, Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce

The Government Is the #1 Consumer

Jaime di Paulo made a critical point that every entrepreneur should internalize: the United States government is the single largest consumer in the world. Federal, state, county, and municipal governments collectively spend trillions of dollars annually on goods and services — from IT infrastructure to toilet paper, from catering to cybersecurity.

If your business sells a product or service, there is almost certainly a government agency that buys it. Chambers exist to help you find those opportunities and compete for them effectively.

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Chapters 03-05

The Three Chambers: A Deep Dive

Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce

President: Dr. Larry Ivory

ilbcoc.org

Mission: Economically empower and sustain the African American community through entrepreneurship and capitalist activity, via interaction with the National Black Chamber of Commerce throughout the Black diaspora.

◆12 Standing Committees — Healthcare, IT, Construction, Sports & Entertainment, and more. Committees meet businesses where they are, matching industry expertise with opportunity.

◆Three-Tier Business Development — Level 3 (startups needing foundational help), Level 2 (growing businesses), Level 1 (established companies needing access and advocacy).

◆Government Contract Advocacy — The chamber sits on governor-appointed committees, the BEP Council, and champions sheltered market legislation to ensure fair procurement.

◆Impact Agents of Change — 10-week credentialed training cohort for entrepreneurs and investors. Weekly "Millionaire Monday" calls and monthly networking mixers.

◆Africa Trade Initiative — A platform connecting African American businesses with talent and trade opportunities across Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and other African nations. Access skilled remote workers for as low as $1,300/month.

Key Insight from Dr. Ivory: "When we have four to five employees, revenues go up from $50-60K to about $400K based on SBA data. We're focused on helping people scale up."

Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois

Executive Director: Megan Nakano • Founded: 2020

aaccil.org

Origin Story: Founded during the pandemic when the Asian American Caucus needed a statewide organization to distribute PPP loan information and resources to the Asian American business community. What began as crisis response became a permanent engine for growth.

◆Procurement Focus — Helps businesses scale through MBE certification and connecting to government and corporate procurement opportunities.

◆Network-First Approach — Leverages Megan's 30+ years of relationships across banking, legal, corporate, and government sectors to connect members with the right people.

◆Scale-Up Focus — Partners with SBDCs and other organizations for startup assistance, while the chamber focuses specifically on scaling existing businesses and accessing larger opportunities.

◆BEP Council Advocacy — Actively works to ensure business owners get certified and renew certifications, understanding that the number of certified vendors directly impacts the size of procurement goals set by government agencies.

Key Insight from Megan: "The fewer certified vendors there are, the smaller the goals are going to be. So get certified — show we are ready and able and willing to do the work."

Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

President & CEO: Jaime di Paulo • Budget: ~$10M

ihccbusiness.net

Scale: One of the largest Hispanic chambers in the country with approximately a $10 million budget. Resources come primarily through government contracting — the chamber practices what it preaches.

◆Small Business Development Center (SBDC) — In-house SBDC providing no-cost business advising, helping new entrepreneurs launch and existing businesses grow.

◆APEX Accelerator — On-site APEX accelerator (formerly PTAC) helping businesses navigate federal, state, and local government contracting. Certification guidance, proposal support, and contract search assistance.

◆Technical Assistance — Legal advice, marketing support, bureaucracy navigation, and hands-on help with licensing and permits across Chicago and suburban municipalities.

◆AI-Powered Contract Search — The IHCC has developed an AI tool called "Contract Radar Maximizer" that allows members to search government contracts in seconds and pre-fill applications using their capability statement. Available for members at approximately $20 per search.

◆1871 Tech Partnership — Active partnership with Chicago's 1871 tech incubator, because "if we don't have any component of technology in our companies, we're not going to be in existence in five or six years."

◆Multi-Location Presence — Offices downtown Chicago, Naperville, Cicero, and Little Village (La Villita).

Impact: In 2020, IHCC helped create and retain 18,092 total jobs — a 42x increase over 2019. Their assistance helped small businesses access $88.1 million in financial resources, a 315% increase from the prior year.

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Chapter 06

Certifications: Your Competitive Advantage

Why Certification Is Non-Negotiable

Every panelist emphasized the same message: get certified. During COVID, thousands of minority business owners could not access PPP loans because they had never formally registered their businesses. The same pattern repeats with government contracts — if you are not certified, you are invisible to the systems that distribute billions in contracts.

Certification is not just paperwork. It is your license to compete in a marketplace that is actively looking for qualified minority and women-owned businesses.

Understanding the Certification Landscape

Certification	What It Means	Who Qualifies	Where to Apply
MBE	Minority Business Enterprise	51%+ owned by minority individual(s)	State certification office or NMSDC
WBE	Women's Business Enterprise	51%+ owned by woman/women	State certification office or WBENC
DBE	Disadvantaged Business Enterprise	Socially & economically disadvantaged owners (max $30.72M avg revenue)	State DOT / Unified Certification Program
8(a)	SBA 8(a) Business Development	Small, disadvantaged businesses (9-year program)	SBA.gov
SDVOSB	Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business	51%+ owned by service-disabled veteran	SBA VetCert
HUBZone	Historically Underutilized Business Zone	Principal office & 35%+ employees in HUBZone	SBA.gov
BEP	Business Enterprise Program (IL specific)	Minority, women, or persons with disabilities in IL	CMS Illinois

Critical Note on Federal Changes (2025-2026): Federal DEI policy changes have challenged race/gender-based presumption of disadvantage for federal certifications. However, state-level programs remain fully intact in many states. As Dr. Ivory emphasized: "The federal rules don't apply to the state goals and objectives. The Tollway and other state agencies have not changed their commitment to diversity." Do not let federal confusion stop you from getting certified at the state level.

The Sheltered Market: A Game-Changer You May Not Know About

Dr. Ivory highlighted one of the most powerful procurement tools available: the Sheltered Market program. Under this legislation, government agencies can reserve certain contracts exclusively for certified minority and women-owned businesses. These contracts can be negotiated rather than competitively bid, giving small businesses a legitimate pathway to government work.

The Illinois Black Chamber championed an executive order requiring that every council meeting include an opportunity to discuss discrimination in procurement, and if found, to establish a sheltered market to correct it.

The Law Exists — But Only Works If You Know About It. As Dr. Ivory put it: "If they don't follow the law, and if we're not aware of the law, then we're living in the darkness. Knowledge is power. When light comes, darkness has to flee."

Certification Challenges to Prepare For

Jaime di Paulo was candid about the challenges that come after certification:

Different agencies have different certifications. The State of Illinois, City of Chicago, Cook County, and federal government each have separate certification processes. The APEX Accelerator can help you navigate all of them.
Bonding is the #1 killer of small contractors. Even with a contract, if your customer pays in 90 days and you need to fund operations now, bonding and working capital become critical. Chambers offer bonding classes and connections to funding agents.
Certification does not equal qualification. You must demonstrate the actual capacity and capability to perform the work — certification verifies your ownership structure, not your competence. Build both.
The certification landscape is changing. Federal changes to presumption of disadvantage mean fewer companies are getting certified — but this creates an opportunity. Fewer certified vendors means those who are certified face less competition.

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Chapter 07

Federal vs. State: The DEI Landscape in 2026

What Happened at the Federal Level

On January 20, 2025, the White House signed Executive Order 14151, titled "Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing." This order directed federal agencies to terminate all DEI offices, programs, and positions. A companion Executive Order 14173 went further, targeting private-sector DEI practices by directing the Attorney General to investigate "illegal DEI discrimination" in the private sector.

The result: confusion, fear, and a chilling effect. Many minority business owners mistakenly believed that all diversity programs — federal, state, and local — had been eliminated. Some stopped pursuing certifications. Some let existing certifications lapse.

This is a critical mistake. Here is the reality:

What the Federal Government CANNOT Do

Executive orders cannot override Congressional law. Programs like 8(a), SDVOSB, HUBZone, and WOSB set-asides were created by Congress through federal statute. They remain law.
Federal executive orders do not apply to state governments. State-level MBE/WBE/DBE programs, procurement goals, and sheltered markets are governed by state legislatures and governors — not the White House.
The federal government cannot force private companies to abandon supplier diversity. As the 16-state Attorney General coalition stated: "The federal government does not have the legal authority to issue an executive order that prohibits otherwise lawful activities in the private sector."
A federal court temporarily blocked key enforcement provisions of the anti-DEI executive orders, citing First Amendment concerns.

16 States Officially Reaffirmed Their Commitment to DEI

On February 13, 2025, a coalition of 16 state Attorneys General issued a joint guidance document entitled "Multi-State Guidance Concerning Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Employment Initiatives." Their message was unambiguous: DEI best practices are not illegal. They are good business.

Arizona California Connecticut Delaware Hawaii Illinois Maine Maryland Massachusetts Minnesota Nevada New Jersey New York Oregon Rhode Island Vermont

These 16 states represent over 140 million Americans and some of the largest economies in the nation. Their position is clear: diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives reduce discrimination and litigation risk — they don't create it.

States with Active Procurement Goals (Examples)

State	MBE/WBE Goal	Key Programs
New York	30% MWBE — achieved 31.86% for 5 consecutive years	Office of Business Diversity, SDVOB certification
Maryland	29% aspirational goal across 70 agencies	Governor's Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs
Illinois	30% BEP goal (raised from 20% by IL General Assembly)	BEP Council, Sheltered Market program, CMS certification
Ohio	15% MBE set-aside through sheltered bidding	Equal Opportunity Division
California	25% DVBE + SB goal	Supplier Diversity Program, CaleProcure
Massachusetts	Active goals for MBE, WBE, SDVOBE, VBE, LGBTBE, DOBE	Supplier Diversity Office
Minnesota	Affirmative action plans required from state contractors	Targeted Group Business Program, workforce reports

The Bottom Line: These state programs are not going away. State legislatures passed these laws. Governors signed them. They are independently funded and enforced. The White House cannot repeal state law. If you are in one of these states — or if you do business with these states — your certifications are more valuable than ever, not less.

The federal rules are impacting what we hear, but they don't apply to the state goals and objectives. The Tollway, CTA, and other state agencies have not changed their commitment to diversity. The laws are still there — we just need to know them and hold people accountable.

— Dr. Larry Ivory, President, Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce (BLC 2026 Panel)

What This Means for You — Right Now

DO NOT let your certifications lapse.

Fewer certified vendors = smaller procurement goals. Every business that drops out makes the pool smaller — and makes it harder for everyone else. Stay certified.

DO NOT confuse federal noise with state reality.

State MBE/WBE/DBE programs, set-asides, and procurement goals remain fully operational in dozens of states. Check your state's procurement office.

DO get certified NOW if you haven't already.

With fewer companies applying for certification, those who are certified face LESS competition for the same pool of set-aside contracts. This is your window.

DO join your chamber — they are your watchdog.

Chambers monitor legislation, sit on procurement councils, and hold agencies accountable to their goals. You cannot fight for yourself if you don't know the rules. They do.

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Chapter 08

Case Study: Inspired Solutions, Inc.

Walking the Walk: A Real Company's Certification Strategy

Inspired Solutions, Inc. is an SBA 8(a) certified, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Women-Owned Small Business headquartered in Virginia with offices in Missouri. Founded by CEO Isabella Pina and led alongside COO Rick Pina, the company operates across eight core service areas including IT products and hardware, cybersecurity, professional services, vendor managed inventory, logistics, federal contracting, training, and consulting. Inspired Solutions holds a GSA MAS Schedule and works with agencies and primes across the federal government and Fortune 500 companies.

What sets Inspired Solutions apart is their commitment to stacking certifications strategically. They don't hold just one certification — they hold nearly every certification available at the federal, national, and state level, because each one opens a different door to a different customer:

SBA 8(a) SDVOSB WOSB / EDWOSB NMSDC MBE WBENC WBE NaVOBA VBE/SDVBE Disability IN By Black (USBC/NMSDC) Military Spouse Owned GSA MAS Schedule ISO 9001:2015 CMMC Level 1

State & Local Certifications

Virginia SWaM Illinois M/WBE (BEP) New York State MWBE New York City MWBE NY/NJ Port Authority MWBE Missouri MWBE & SDVBE Pennsylvania SB/SDB/VBE Texas MWBE St. Louis City MWBE

Here is what each category of certification unlocks:

Certification Category	What It Unlocks
SBA 8(a)	Sole-source federal contracts up to $4.5M (goods) and $7M (services). Set-aside competitions with reduced competition. Mentor-Protégé program with large businesses. Inspired Solutions is in Year 5 of their 9-year 8(a) term.
SDVOSB / WOSB / EDWOSB	Multiple federal set-aside categories. SDVOSB unlocks VA sole-source up to $5M and 3% government-wide goal. WOSB/EDWOSB unlocks 5% government-wide goal. Stacking these means eligibility for more set-asides than competitors who hold only one.
NMSDC MBE / WBENC WBE / NaVOBA	Corporate supplier diversity programs recognized by Fortune 500 companies. These national certifications open the door to private-sector contracts that state-level certs alone cannot access. Recognized by companies like JPMorgan Chase, WWT, and Dell.
GSA MAS Schedule	Pre-negotiated pricing that makes it easy for any federal agency to buy from you. Streamlined purchasing — agencies prefer GSA schedule holders because it reduces their procurement burden. Inspired Solutions holds SINs for IT Equipment, IT Professional Services, and Order-Level Materials.
State Certifications (9 states)	State-level procurement goals and set-asides in Virginia, Illinois, New York, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Texas, and more. Access to Tollway, DOT, CTA, Port Authority, and state agency contracts. Sheltered market eligibility. Each state is a separate market worth billions.
ISO 9001 / CMMC	Quality management and cybersecurity certifications demonstrate operational maturity. Required or preferred for many federal contracts — especially DoD. Differentiates you from competitors who lack quality systems.

The Lesson: Inspired Solutions didn't wait for one certification to "work" before pursuing the next. They built a certification portfolio spanning federal, national, and state levels — totaling over 20 active certifications across 9 states. Each certification opens different doors to different customers at different levels of government and the private sector. They were also recognized as an NMSDC Top 100 MBE in 2025 and are a Great Place to Work certified company. This is the strategy every small business should follow.

We have pretty much every certification — 8(a), SDVOSB, MBE, WBE, SDB, all of it. And we're certified in Illinois. With fewer companies getting certified, the opportunity for those who are certified just got bigger.

— Rick Pina, COO/CRO, Inspired Solutions, Inc. (from BLC 2026 audience Q&A)

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Chapter 09

Unlocking Access to Capital

The #1 Barrier: A Person of Color Has 60% Less Chance of Getting a Loan

Jaime di Paulo stated the reality plainly: when a person of color applies for a loan compared to a white counterpart, they have 60% fewer chances of receiving that loan. This is not opinion — it is documented by the SBA and Federal Reserve data across multiple studies.

With 89% of Latino businesses (and similar percentages in Black and Asian communities) operating with fewer than 20 employees, the capital gap is the single biggest obstacle to scaling. Chambers attack this problem from multiple angles:

Relationship Banking

Megan Nakano emphasized that capital access is ultimately about relationships with bankers. Chambers introduce you to banking partners, help you prepare financial documentation, and advocate on your behalf. Getting a banker to "treat you like a friend" starts with the chamber introduction.

Bonding Classes

The IHCC and ILBCC offer bonding education — understanding how to get bonded so you can carry contracts while waiting 60-90 days for government payments. Without bonding, even a won contract can bankrupt a small business.

Grant Writing Assistance

The ILBCC provides low-cost grant writing services and complimentary funding alerts for members. Grants don't require repayment and can provide critical working capital for growth.

Alternative Financing

Programs like USHCC's Lendistry partnership and SBA microloans provide flexible financing alternatives when traditional banks say no. CDFIs (Community Development Financial Institutions) are another chamber-connected resource.

One man or one woman with $1,000 has power. But ten men, ten women with $100 have greater power. When we come together and start communicating and talking to each other, that's when real change happens.

— Dr. Larry Ivory, President, Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce

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Chapter 10

From Solopreneur to Enterprise: The Scaling Blueprint

The 20-Employee Threshold

Jaime di Paulo shared a critical data point: when a business grows past 20 employees, it tends to explode — hiring more people, generating exponentially more revenue, and becoming capable of competing for larger contracts. The SBA defines small business as 500 employees or fewer, but 89% of minority businesses are stuck at 20 or fewer.

The jump from solopreneur ($50-60K revenue) to a 4-5 person company ($400K revenue per SBA data) is the first critical leap. Here's how chambers help you make it:

Five Strategies From the Panel

Become a Prime Contractor, Not Just a Sub. Jaime shared CTA data: 860 contracts went to minority businesses — sounds great. But 90% were under $100,000, and only six were prime contracts over $2 million. Chambers advocate for "unbundling" large contracts into sizes minority businesses can win as primes.
Use Joint Ventures and Partnering. Dr. Ivory explained that if you're not ready for prime time alone, joint ventures allow you to combine capacity with other small businesses to compete for larger contracts. Chambers facilitate these partnerships.
Acquire Existing Businesses. Baby boomers are retiring and have no one to sell their businesses to. Rather than starting from scratch, acquire an existing business with established customers, revenue, and capabilities. Chambers can connect you to these opportunities.
Leverage Remote Talent Globally. The ILBCC launched a platform to hire skilled professionals from Africa at $1,300/month — allowing small businesses to add capacity without the $65,000+ cost of a domestic hire. Scale your team affordably, then hire locally as revenue grows.
Embed Technology in Everything. Jaime was blunt: "If we don't have any component of technology in our companies, we're not going to be in existence in five or six years." From AI-powered contract search to digital marketing, technology is the equalizer.

The International Trade Opportunity

All three panelists highlighted international trade as an underutilized growth strategy:

Use your competitive advantage. Megan Nakano advised: "If you have relatives in Canada, you know how to do business with Canada better than your competitors. If you have ties to South America, Africa, Asia — capitalize on those connections."

Manufacturing is coming home. Jaime noted that regardless of politics, the push to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. creates enormous opportunities for minority businesses. The IHCC even opened an office in Mexico to facilitate two-way trade.

Use your consulates and elected officials. Megan encouraged entrepreneurs to form long-term relationships with consulates and trade offices — it is literally their job to help facilitate business opportunities.

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Chapter 11

National Chamber Organizations & How to Find Yours

The three chambers featured at BLC 2026 are Illinois-specific. But every state has equivalent organizations. Here are the national umbrella organizations that can connect you to your local chamber, no matter where you operate:

National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC)

Founded: 1993 • Network: 200+ chambers across 40 states and 50 countries • Website: nationalbcc.org

The first national federation of Black chambers, committed to advancing economic mobility through entrepreneurship. Programs include government contracting assistance, blockchain education, the Fiserv Back2Business program, diversity recruiting, and the QmeMarketplace partnership.

How to Find Your State Chapter: Visit nationalbcc.org and navigate to their affiliate directory. State and local Black chambers operate independently — join both the national NBCC and your local chapter for maximum coverage.

United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC)

Founded: 1979 • Network: 260+ local chambers • Represents: 5M+ Hispanic-owned businesses contributing $800B+ to U.S. economy • Website: ushcc.com

Programs include Avanzar (6-8 month accelerator for businesses under $1M), Business Matchmaking events connecting Hispanic suppliers with Fortune 500 procurement representatives, the Green Builds Business initiative for sustainability, and the Lendistry financing partnership.

How to Find Your State Chapter: Visit ushcc.com and search their chamber directory. The network spans 260+ local chambers and business associations nationwide.

National ACE (Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber)

Founded: 2012 • Network: 120+ affiliate AAPI chambers • Website: nationalace.org

Programs include the Capital Readiness Program (MBDA-funded incubator/accelerator hubs on both coasts), the CalAsian Empower Program for government contracting readiness, the annual AAPISTRONG conference, and advocacy initiatives in Washington D.C.

How to Find Your State Chapter: Visit nationalace.org and explore their affiliate network. With 120+ regional and statewide chambers, there is likely one serving your area.

Other National Organizations to Know

Organization	Focus	Website
NMSDC	National Minority Supplier Development Council — corporate MBE certification recognized by Fortune 500	nmsdc.org
WBENC	Women's Business Enterprise National Council — premier WBE certification for corporate contracts	wbenc.org
National Veterans Business Development Council	SDVOSB certification for corporate supplier diversity	nvbdc.org
U.S. Chamber of Commerce	The largest business federation — state and local chambers in every community	uschamber.com
SCORE	Free mentoring from experienced business professionals	score.org

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Chapter 12

Free Government Resources Every Entrepreneur Must Know

Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)

Megan Nakano said it plainly: "There are so many free technical assistance centers out there that people don't know about, and it's a shame — you put your tax dollars into them, and you should feel welcome to take advantage of them."

SBDCs are funded by the SBA and hosted by universities, colleges, and economic development agencies. There are 900+ locations nationwide — at least one in every state and territory, and usually one in every neighborhood.

Services (all free or low-cost): One-on-one business advising, business plan development, financial projections, marketing strategy, access to capital guidance, market research, and workshops.

Find yours: Visit americassbdc.org/find-your-sbdc or sba.gov/local-assistance/find

APEX Accelerators (Formerly PTAC)

APEX Accelerators are the government contracting specialists. Funded by the Department of Defense, there are 90+ locations across 49 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam. They specialize in helping businesses sell products and services to federal, state, and local government agencies.

Services (all free): Government registration assistance (SAM.gov), certification guidance (8(a), SDVOSB, HUBZone, MBE/WBE/DBE), contract opportunity identification, bid/proposal preparation, marketing to government buyers, and compliance guidance.

Find yours: Visit apexaccelerators.us or sba.gov/local-assistance/federal-contracting-assistance

Additional Free Resources

Resource	What They Do	How to Access
SCORE Mentors	Free mentoring from experienced business professionals. Workshops, webinars, and one-on-one sessions.	score.org — matches you with a mentor in your industry
SBA Women's Business Centers	Specialized assistance for women entrepreneurs. Business training, counseling, access to capital.	sba.gov/local-assistance — search for WBCs in your area
MBDA Business Centers	Minority Business Development Agency centers. Focus on helping MBEs access capital, contracts, and markets.	mbda.gov — locate your nearest center
SAM.gov	The System for Award Management — required registration for all federal contracting. Also where federal opportunities are posted.	sam.gov — register for free
State Procurement Portals	Every state has its own portal for posting contract opportunities. Illinois uses BidBuy (Illinois Procurement Gateway).	Search "[Your State] procurement portal"

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Chapter 13

Your 90-Day Chamber Action Plan

Knowledge without action is entertainment. Here is a concrete, step-by-step plan to implement everything in this guide within the next 90 days:

Days 1-30: Foundation

Register your business formally — if not already done, get your LLC/Corporation, EIN, state registration, and business licenses in order.
Register on SAM.gov — this is free and required for any federal contracting. Get your Unique Entity ID (UEI).
Join your state's minority chamber — use the national directories above to find Black, Hispanic, or Asian chambers in your state. Pay the membership fee. Show up.
Visit your local SBDC — schedule a free one-on-one advising session. Bring your financial statements, business plan (or idea), and questions.
Build your capability statement — a one-page document that summarizes who you are, what you do, your certifications, and past performance. Your SBDC or chamber can help.

Days 31-60: Certification Sprint

Apply for state MBE/WBE/DBE certification — contact your state's certification office. In Illinois, this is the CMS BEP program. Most states offer free certification.
Visit your local APEX Accelerator — schedule a meeting to discuss government contracting opportunities in your industry. They will help you understand which certifications matter most for your business.
Explore SBA certifications — if eligible, begin the 8(a), SDVOSB, or HUBZone application process. These take 90+ days, so start now.
Attend a chamber event — networking mixer, committee meeting, procurement fair, or workshop. Meet the people who can open doors for you.
Research your first target contracts — use SAM.gov, your state procurement portal, and the IHCC's Contract Radar Maximizer (if applicable) to identify 3-5 contracts you could compete for.

Days 61-90: Activation

Submit your first bid or proposal — even if you don't win, the process teaches you the system. Your APEX Accelerator can review your submission.
Join a chamber committee — get involved in the committee that matches your industry. This puts you in direct contact with decision-makers and peers.
Identify joint venture partners — find complementary businesses through your chamber that you could partner with on larger contracts.
Meet with your elected officials — introduce your business, learn about their economic development priorities, and ask how you can help advance them.
Set a 12-month goal — revenue target, employee count, certification milestones, and contract wins. Write it down. Share it with your chamber mentor.

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Chapter 14

The Power of Unity: Building Together

A Historic Commitment

Perhaps the most powerful moment of the BLC 2026 panel came at the end, when Dr. Larry Ivory made a public commitment to Dr. Thomas and the audience: the three chambers would begin meeting monthly to share opportunities, coordinate advocacy, and build cross-community partnerships.

This is the model for every community. Whether you are Black, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, or any other background, the message from these chamber leaders is unanimous: we are stronger together.

I might only have a chicken dinner, but who's gonna bring the greens? And who's gonna bring the sweet potato pie? And all of a sudden, we have a huge meal if we all contribute.

— Dr. Deloris Thomas, on the power of collaborative entrepreneurship

What Unity Looks Like in Practice

Shared opportunity databases — the panel committed to building a technology platform to share contract opportunities across all three chambers.
Cross-chamber joint ventures — a Hispanic-owned construction firm partners with a Black-owned IT company and an Asian-owned engineering firm to win a contract none could have won alone.
Collective advocacy — when three chambers go to Springfield together demanding accountability on procurement goals, the impact is exponentially greater than one voice alone.
International trade corridors — leveraging the cultural connections of all three communities to open trade routes across Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

Your Part in the Movement

Dr. Bill Winston's vision is 100,000 entrepreneurs making a million dollars, creating a billion-dollar economy in five years. That vision is not achieved by individuals competing against each other. It is achieved by a community of business owners who invest in each other, buy from each other, partner with each other, and hold the systems around them accountable.

The chambers exist to serve you. The resources exist to empower you. The certifications exist to open doors for you. The only missing piece is you — showing up, getting involved, and refusing to accept the status quo.

Inside This Guide