As of August 3, 2021, the Berwyn Development Corporation proudly announces its expanded partnership with Cook County Bureau of Economic Development, Next Street, and its network of providers as part of the County’s ongoing work through its nationally recognized Small Business Assistance Program. The County recently received an Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) award of $744,600 as part of its Community Navigator Program and We Rise Together coalition’s award of $500,000. Combined, the new resources will support the County’s nationally recognized Small Business Assistance Program to further support recovery efforts for pandemic-impacted businesses. Cook County will serve as one of 13 “Hubs” in the State of Illinois’ $9 million Community Navigator Program and will focus its efforts to build awareness to ensure available federal, state, and local funding is easily accessible to minorities and hard-to-reach small businesses. As a “Hub”, Cook County has enlisted the Berwyn Development Corporation as one of the region’s 10 leading business support organizations to provide business coaching services. To learn more about Cook County’s Small Business Assistance Program, visit www.cookcountysmallbiz.org.