Helping founders find community and connections
Tailored program to equip students with the necessary tools and support to jump-start their ventures.
Provides a comprehensive accredited Economic Development education for professionals with LESS than 10 years of experience, and individuals dedicated to expanding their economic development knowledge.
Learn more →Offers education, networking opportunities and other assistance to entrepreneurs and existing businesses to help them increase their market potential.
Learn more →Six-month learning and development program, providing participants with a behind-the-scenes look at Evanston's business community. Through local business case studies, on-site tours, SME presentations and stakeholder conversations, program participants get a unique chance to learn about, explore, embrace and better understand the inner workings of businesses, and business, in Evanston.
Learn more →Six-month practical innovation-focused leadership program designed to cultivate world-class innovation leaders and connect executives to the Chicago Innovation ecosystem.
Learn more →Participants will attend 15 sessions over the course of 14 weeks, typically on Thursday mornings, where they will experience on-site learning and gain an inside view of the industries and issues that shape our region. The program also entails group-based service learning projects and concludes with a project presentations and graduation ceremony in December.
Learn more →No-cost seminars are offered on a rotating schedule throughout the year. Topics vary but are always relevant to the small business owner.
Learn more →Hands-on course designed to give you the skills and knowledge necessary to become an effective community leader.
Learn more →Two-year graduate fellowship program for returned Peace Corps volunteers (RPCV) and AmeriCorps (AC) Alumni. As part of their degree program, Fellows serve an eleven-month internship in a rural community, leading local development projects, such as: downtown revitalization, business retention and expansion, tourism development, health education, volunteer management, and disaster preparedness. Fellows work to build local capacity, mobilize people, and make sustainable progress. Any small town, group of towns, or local/county/regional agencies are eligible to apply to host a Fellow.
Learn more →Assists cooperatives and other businesses in rural areas succeed, through technical assistance, training, and publications. Assistance is delivered through a combination of ICDC staff, partner cooperative development agencies, and paid consultants. The cooperatives in all sectors are eligible for assistance through the Center. ICDC has extensive expertise in value-added and sustainable agriculture and local foods.
Learn more →8 month course that is available to up and coming leaders, leaders to the new area, and current leaders who want to be more involved in the Illinois Valley. Participants can expect, among other things, introductions to current leaders that make our communities run, behind the scenes tours and interactions with successful business in our area, a better understanding and development of their personal leadership strenghts and a strong netwok of individuals from their class that they will have as peer mentors for years to come.
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