Resources to help startups, small and mid-sized businesses
The QC has a robust business and economic growth ecosystem to help advise you on how to start a business as well as grow and expand. Your first stops should be to these partners that provide free, confidential services:
- SCORE Quad Cities: Program offering expertise from dozens of mentors and subject-matter experts focused on helping entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.
- Small Business Development Centers (SBDC): Program offering advice to small business owners, including minority entrepreneurs, on all aspects of operating their businesses as part of the Small Business Administration.
Associations
Business Planning & Counsel
- Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Western Illinois University - Quad Cities
- Iowa Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
- Quad Cities SCORE (Service Corp of Retired Executives)
- SBDCNet - national information clearinghouse serving Small Business Development Centers
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Diversity Toolkit from Augustana College
- Illinois Resource Center
- Mid-Atlantic ADA Center - Employer's Practical Guide to the Americans with Disabilities Act
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) - Metrocom branch
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) - Rock Island County branch
- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Entrepreneurship & Startup Resources
Funding
Government Contracting Assistance
Import/Export Assistance
Incubators & Makerspaces
- coworkqc - shared workspace and coworking community
- Freight House Farmers Market
- Mercado on Fifth
- Palomares - St. John's Catalyst Kitchen
- QC Co-Lab: The Quad Cities Makerspace
- Shoppes on 2nd retail incubator
- Together Making a Better Community (TMBC) at the Lincoln Resource Center
- Underground Economy
Minority, Women or Veteran-Owned Business
- Black Capitol of Iowa
- Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Illinois Office of Minority Economic Empowerment
- Iowa Targeted Small Business Program
- National Veteran Owned Business Association (NaVOBA)
- QC Empowerment Network
- SCORE - for Veteran Entrepreneurs
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) - support for veteran small business
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) - Small Disadvantaged Business
Regulatory & Licensing
- Davenport Public Library Patent & Trademark Resource Center
- Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES)
- Illinois Department of Revenue
- Illinois Secretary of State
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Employer ID Number (EIN)
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Small Business & Self-Employed Tax Center
- Iowa Department of Revenue
- Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Business License Information Center
- Iowa Secretary of State
- Small Business Aministration (SBA) Franchise Directory
- U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
- U.S. Copyright Office
- U.S. Patents & Trademark Office (USPTO)
- U.S.Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Start a Business
State Agencies - Business Resources
Contact
Julie Forsythe
Senior Vice President, Business & Economic Growth
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