Giannoulias’ First Business Services Resource Fair Draws Hundreds, Connects Entrepreneurs to Critical Resources

Free Event Brought Together Aspiring and Established Business Owners with Licensing, Registration, Tax and Funding Support

Max Walczyk - Office of Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias

Apr 29, 2026 11:48 AM

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CHICAGO – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias highlighted the success of the office’s first-ever Business Services Resource Fair, which drew more than 500 attendees from across Illinois to connect with the tools and resources needed to start and grow a business.

Held on April 27 at Malcolm X College, the free event brought together state, county and city agencies alongside private-sector business development organizations to provide entrepreneurs with direct access to licensing, registration, tax and funding guidance – all in one place.

“Too many people with great ideas never get their business off the ground because the process can feel confusing, expensive and stacked against them,” Giannoulias said. “This is exactly the kind of work government should be doing: breaking down barriers and making it easier for people to pursue opportunity. When we support entrepreneurs, we’re not just helping individual businesses, we’re strengthening communities and growing our economy.”

Attendees remained engaged throughout the four-hour event, with more than 200 participants seated for presentations and many others visiting exhibitor tables to receive hands-on guidance and connect directly with experts.

The fair attracted a diverse mix of first-time entrepreneurs and small business owners, with exhibitors noting a particularly strong turnout of individuals looking to start a business, a group that is often harder to reach.

Participants received step-by-step guidance on how to register a business in Illinois, apply for state and federal tax identification numbers, obtain business licenses and explore funding opportunities such as loans and grants. Attendees also learned how to do business with government agencies and accessed support from organizations focused on small business development.

Feedback from both attendees and exhibitors was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the event’s accessibility and the ability to access a wide range of resources in a single location. Several participating organizations described the fair as one of the most effective and well-attended events they have participated in.

The Secretary of State’s Business Services division oversees business entities – foreign and domestic – formed or registered to conduct business in Illinois, including corporations, not-for-profits, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships (LPs) and limited liability partnerships (LLPs).

For more information on starting or managing a business in Illinois, visit www.ilsos.gov/departments/business-services.html.