2026 Open Office Hours at Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
2025-10-01 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-10-08 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-10-15 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-10-22 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-10-29 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-11-05 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-11-12 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-11-19 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Chicago) and 1 more date | Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, 201 W. Kenyon Road, Champaign, IL, United States
Sarah Michaels, Director of Environmental Health at CUPHD, hosts Open Office Hours every week to assist food/drink/retail establishment owners, managers, and workers with questions related to Environmental Health programs and services: https://www.c-uphd.org/environmental-health.html.
The Open Office Hours are available every Wednesday from 10-11:30 AM at CUPHD: 201 W. Kenyon Road, Champaign, IL 61820.
No pre-registration is required.

2025 Open Office Hours at Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
2025-10-08 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-10-15 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-10-22 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-10-29 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-11-05 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-11-12 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-11-19 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-11-26 10:00 - 11:30 | Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, 201 W. Kenyon Road, Champaign, IL, United States

Illinois APEX Accelerator Workshop: How the Illinois APEX Accelerators Can Help
2025-10-08 13:00 - 14:00 | Illinois Small Business Development Center, 1817 S. Neil Street, Suite 100, Champaign, IL, 61820, United States
Celebrating National APEX Day: https://www.napex.us/
Presented by Keli Krueger-Huhra, Director – Illinois APEX Accelerator at Champaign County EDC
Government contracting is constantly evolving, and success depends on staying ahead of critical updates. Whether you’re registering in SAM.gov, researching databases for opportunities, or navigating the new and updated portals such as the MySBA Certification Portal, understanding these tools can open doors to contracts and partnerships across state and federal agencies.
This session will highlight the expertise offered by the Illinois APEX Accelerator at Champaign County EDC to give you step-by-step guidance, practical tips, and the latest updates — so you can turn information into action and position your business for growth.
Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Time: 1-2 PM
Location: Illinois APEX Accelerator at Champaign County EDC, 1817 S. Neil Street, Suite 100, Champaign, IL 61820
Registration: No cost to attend, registration required to secure a spot. Materials will be provided. RSVP below.
This training event is supported by federal taxpayer funds. By registering, I certify that I am legally authorized to receive services funded by U.S. taxpayer dollars, in accordance with applicable federal law and regulations.

Webinar: Holiday Marketing Checklist – Getting Ready for Holiday Shopping
2025-10-09 10:00 - 11:00 | Webinar
This workshop qualifies for reimbursement as part of the City of Champaign New Business Grant Program. If you are an awardee of the program and attend this session, you will receive a certificate to include in your reimbursement forms to the City.
Presented by Scott Clanin – Director, Clanin Creative
The holiday season is right around the corner! This workshop will cover holiday marketing advice to help you sell more this season. With tips for email marketing, social media, creating holiday offers, optimizing your website, and more, you’ll leave this session feeling confident for the 2025 shopping season!
Date: Thursday, October 9, 2025
Time: 10-11 AM
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cVuZPkchQOS-P1qWpaBhkg
*After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Scott Clanin is the owner and director of Clanin Creative, an independent design agency based in Champaign, Illinois. With a deep passion for marketing and a sharp creative eye, Scott leads projects that help businesses craft and communicate their unique stories. He is a strong advocate for the local community, having served on the boards of Promise Healthcare, 40 North, the Champaign Center Partnership, and more. As a certified Google professional, Scott combines his expertise in digital strategy with a commitment to innovative design, helping brands grow and thrive.
Clanin Creative is an independent design agency hailing from Champaign, Illinois, dedicated to transforming brands with standout design and compelling storytelling. Their unique approach blends strategic insight with creative skill, delivering tailored solutions that elevate brands and connect with audiences. Learn more by visiting www.clanincreative.com
This webinar is sponsored by the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC and presented in collaboration with Champaign County EDC, Champaign Center Partnership, Champaign County Chamber of Commerce, Champaign Public Library, Community Foundation of East Central Illinois, EDC of Decatur & Macon County, Experience Champaign-Urbana, Parkland College Community Education, and University of Illinois Research Park.
This training event is supported by federal taxpayer funds. By registering, I certify that I am legally authorized to receive services funded by U.S. taxpayer dollars, in accordance with applicable federal law and regulations.

2025 Open Office Hours at Champaign Public Library
2025-10-09 12:00 - 15:00, 2025-11-13 12:00 - 15:00 | Champaign Public Library, 200 W. Green Street, Champaign, IL, 61820, United States
SBDC Director, Madeleine Wolske, will hold open office hours at Launch (at Champaign Public Library) on the 2nd Thursday of each month from 12 – 3 PM.
2025 dates:

March 13
April 10*
May 8
June 12
July 10
August 14*
September 11
October 9*
November 13
December 11*

* denotes dates that Madeleine will be joined by Sarah Michaels, Director of Environmental Health at CUPHD, to assist food/drink/retail establishment owners, managers, and workers with questions related to Environmental Health programs and services: https://www.c-uphd.org/environmental-health.html.
SBDC services are offered at no cost & are completely confidential. For those interested in attending the Office Hours and have not worked with the SBDC before, please register as a client prior to your meeting: https://ilsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/signup?centerid=118
Launch at the Library business services include a walk-in coworking space, seminars, meeting rooms, and resources to help start, manage, and grow your business. Visit champaign.org/launch for more information.

SBDC Workshop: Starting Your Business in Illinois
2025-10-20 18:00 - 20:00 | Illinois Small Business Development Center, 1817 S. Neil Street, Suite 100, Champaign, IL, 61820, United States
Presented by Madeleine Wolske, Director – Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC
Thinking about starting a business in Illinois? This workshop helps aspiring entrepreneurs understand the opportunities and requirements for starting their business. You’ll be taken step-by-step through a variety of topics and can ask questions.
Topics covered:

Introduction to the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC
Feasibility Checklist
Creating a Lean Business Plan
Identifying Your Customers
Sources of Funding, including Financing and Grant Options
Business Formation and Registration

Time: 6-8 PM
Dates:

Monday, July 21, 2025
Monday, August 18, 2025
Monday, September 15, 2025
Monday, October 20, 2025
Monday, November 17, 2025

Location: Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC, 1817 S. Neil Street, Suite 100, Champaign, IL 61820
Registration: No cost to attend, registration required to secure a spot. Materials will be provided. RSVP below.
This training event is supported by federal taxpayer funds. By registering, I certify that I am legally authorized to receive services funded by U.S. taxpayer dollars, in accordance with applicable federal law and regulations.

ITC Webinar: Navigating Tariff Pressures
2025-10-27 10:00 - 11:00 | Webinar
Presented by Beatriz Ramirez – International Trade Center Specialist, Illinois SBDC at Champaign County EDC
The U.S. Administration has expanded the use of tariffs through Section 232, International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), and reciprocal trade measures, framing them as tools of industrial and national security policy. While tariffs aim to restore supply chains, protect critical industries, and strengthen negotiating leverage, they have triggered retaliatory measures from key partners. Small businesses face higher costs and market risks, but they can adapt by diversifying their export markets, restructuring supply chains, leveraging duty relief programs, and differentiating their offerings. Proactive alignment and strategic planning are crucial for mitigating risk and staying competitive in a rapidly evolving trade environment.
Date: Monday, October 27, 2025
Time: 10-11 AM
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qT4d0KW2Syi34lvBDMJoiw
*After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
PLEASE NOTE: this webinar will be recorded and may be shared publicly. By registering for this webinar, you understand that your questions or comments shared during the webinar will be recorded and shared in a public domain.
This training event is supported by federal taxpayer funds. By registering, I certify that I am legally authorized to receive services funded by U.S. taxpayer dollars, in accordance with applicable federal law and regulations.

Illinois APEX Accelerator Webinar: Start Now in Government Contracting Series Part 1 – Conducting Market Research
2025-10-28 10:00 - 11:00 | Webinar
This session is part 1 of a 3-part series.
Presented by Keli Krueger-Huhra, Director – Illinois APEX Accelerator at Champaign County EDC
What do we find when we conduct market research? Propensity! In other words:

Who buys what you sell?
How do they buy it?
How often do they buy it?
How much they are buying?

This is the beginning of the journey to determine if government contracting is a good fit for your business. In the first of our 3-part series, we will help you decide whether you can compete based on what the marketplace tells you. You’ll learn how to effectively use available resources to perform research for past awards, current agency opportunities, and forecasts to determine which agencies use your product or services. We’ll show you how to generate agency top ten lists and see how you can get questions answered by using the search criteria for informing the results.
Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Time: 10-11 AM
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3RzMx1Y2RPudf70Vk6NIsw
*After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
PLEASE NOTE: this webinar will be recorded and may be shared publicly. By registering for this webinar, you understand that your questions or comments shared during the webinar will be recorded and shared in a public domain.
This training event is supported by federal taxpayer funds. By registering, I certify that I am legally authorized to receive services funded by U.S. taxpayer dollars, in accordance with applicable federal law and regulations.

Webinar: Email Marketing Essential
2025-11-06 10:00 - 11:00 | Webinar
This workshop qualifies for reimbursement as part of the City of Champaign New Business Grant Program. If you are an awardee of the program and attend this session, you will receive a certificate to include in your reimbursement forms to the City.
Presented by Scott Clanin – Director, Clanin Creative
You may have heard the importance of email marketing, but where should you start? In this workshop, we will discuss popular email marketing platforms, creative ways to grow your list, opt-in forms, email design, open rates, and many other best practices to help you get started.
Date: Thursday, November 6, 2025
Time: 10-11 AM
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dEIogKetRvm07qF5-gxyrg
*After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Scott Clanin is the owner and director of Clanin Creative, an independent design agency based in Champaign, Illinois. With a deep passion for marketing and a sharp creative eye, Scott leads projects that help businesses craft and communicate their unique stories. He is a strong advocate for the local community, having served on the boards of Promise Healthcare, 40 North, the Champaign Center Partnership, and more. As a certified Google professional, Scott combines his expertise in digital strategy with a commitment to innovative design, helping brands grow and thrive.
Clanin Creative is an independent design agency hailing from Champaign, Illinois, dedicated to transforming brands with standout design and compelling storytelling. Their unique approach blends strategic insight with creative skill, delivering tailored solutions that elevate brands and connect with audiences. Learn more by visiting www.clanincreative.com
This webinar is sponsored by the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC and presented in collaboration with Champaign County EDC, Champaign Center Partnership, Champaign County Chamber of Commerce, Champaign Public Library, Community Foundation of East Central Illinois, EDC of Decatur & Macon County, Experience Champaign-Urbana, Parkland College Community Education, and University of Illinois Research Park.

Illinois Export Roadshow
2025-11-06 15:00 - 16:30 | EnterpriseWorks, 60 Hazelwood Drive, Champaign, IL, 61820, United States
Together with the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and Illinois Office of Trade and Investment (OTI), the Illinois Small Business Development Center – International Trade Center at Champaign County EDC will host an Illinois Export Roadshow. Join representatives from each organization to learn more about the support they offer, programs available, opportunities to expand your business’ trade portfolio, and more.
Speakers:

Madeleine Wolske, Director — Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC
Margo Markopoulos, Director — Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, Office of Trade and Investment
Lauro Arias, Assistant Deputy Director — Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, Office of Trade and Investment
Kevin Kim, International Trade Specialist (Asia-Pacific) — Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
Chris Sedgwich, International Trade Specialist (the Americas) — Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
Jessica Dooley, Fiscal and Administrative Manager — Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
Cynthia Ottemann, Chief of Staff — Inprentus

Date: Thursday, November 6, 2025
Time: 3-4:30 PM
Location: University of Illinois Research Park — EnterpriseWorks, 60 Hazelwood Drive, Champaign, IL 61820
Registration: No cost to attend, registration required to secure a spot. Materials will be provided. RSVP below.

Workshop: Instagram Reels 2.0
2025-11-12 10:00 - 11:00 | Champaign Public Library, 200 W. Green Street, Champaign, IL, 61820, United States
This workshop qualifies for reimbursement as part of the City of Champaign New Business Grant Program. If you are an awardee of the program and attend this session, you will receive a certificate to include in your reimbursement forms to the City.
Presented by Scott Clanin – Director, Clanin Creative
Ready to level up your Reels game? In this intermediate workshop, we’ll explore the latest editing tools, creative trends, and advanced techniques for producing engaging, polished content. You’ll also learn how to extend your reach by promoting Reels through Instagram’s advertising tools. Whether you’re looking to boost engagement or build brand awareness, this session will help you stay ahead in the world of short-form video. Prior Reels experience is helpful but not required!
Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Time: 10-11 AM
Location: Champaign Public Library (Robeson Pavilion B) – 200 W. Green Street, Champaign, IL 61820
Register below to secure a seat (no cost to attend). All materials will be provided.
Scott Clanin is the owner and director of Clanin Creative, an independent design agency based in Champaign, Illinois. With a deep passion for marketing and a sharp creative eye, Scott leads projects that help businesses craft and communicate their unique stories. He is a strong advocate for the local community, having served on the boards of Promise Healthcare, 40 North, the Champaign Center Partnership, and more. As a certified Google professional, Scott combines his expertise in digital strategy with a commitment to innovative design, helping brands grow and thrive.
Clanin Creative is an independent design agency hailing from Champaign, Illinois, dedicated to transforming brands with standout design and compelling storytelling. Their unique approach blends strategic insight with creative skill, delivering tailored solutions that elevate brands and connect with audiences. Learn more by visiting www.clanincreative.com
This workshop is sponsored by the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC and presented in collaboration with Champaign County EDC, Champaign Center Partnership, Champaign County Chamber of Commerce, Champaign Public Library, Community Foundation of East Central Illinois, EDC of Decatur & Macon County, Experience Champaign-Urbana, Parkland College Community Education, and University of Illinois Research Park.

Illinois APEX Accelerator Webinar: Start Now in Government Contracting Series Part 2 – Develop Your Government Market Plan
2025-11-14 10:00 - 11:00 | Webinar
This session is part 2 of a 3-part series.
Presented by Keli Krueger-Huhra, Director – Illinois APEX Accelerator at Champaign County EDC
Building a reputation as an expert in your industry, building relationships with potential customers and partners, and getting face time at industry events or meetings are as vital in government business as they are in private sector sales. However, due to government acquisition regulations, it is critical to establish relationships and build trust long before a solicitation is released. In this session, we’ll explore the pivotal role that marketing plays in winning government procurement opportunities. We’ll delve into the resources available for small businesses to connect with their target agencies, such as agency OSDBUs, SBA PCRs, SBLOs, and other allies who advocate for small businesses. We’ll look at marketing tools such as the Dynamic Small Business Search to enhance your company’s visibility to agencies and primes. You’ll also learn to find and prepare for networking and matchmaking events. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your marketing game in the procurement landscape.
Date: Friday, November 14, 2025
Time: 10-11 AM
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_a_cP4rCpTx6SuVwgOxcZaA
*After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
PLEASE NOTE: this webinar will be recorded and may be shared publicly. By registering for this webinar, you understand that your questions or comments shared during the webinar will be recorded and shared in a public domain.

Webinar: Navigating Google’s Latest Updates for Business Growth
2025-11-18 10:00 - 11:00 | Webinar
This workshop qualifies for reimbursement as part of the City of Champaign New Business Grant Program. If you are an awardee of the program and attend this session, you will receive a certificate to include in your reimbursement forms to the City.
Presented by Scott Clanin – Director, Clanin Creative
Get ahead of the curve with our Google Updates workshop covering the latest updates to key Google products, including Google Business Profile, Google Search ads, and more. Discover how these new tools can revolutionize your online presence and drive business growth. Join us to stay informed, stay competitive, and unlock the full potential of Google’s latest advancements.
Date: Thursday, November 18, 2025
Time: 10-11 AM
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_o0PpOKEUR1eSL2bMNmBrhA
*After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Scott Clanin is the owner and director of Clanin Creative, an independent design agency based in Champaign, Illinois. With a deep passion for marketing and a sharp creative eye, Scott leads projects that help businesses craft and communicate their unique stories. He is a strong advocate for the local community, having served on the boards of Promise Healthcare, 40 North, the Champaign Center Partnership, and more. As a certified Google professional, Scott combines his expertise in digital strategy with a commitment to innovative design, helping brands grow and thrive.
Clanin Creative is an independent design agency hailing from Champaign, Illinois, dedicated to transforming brands with standout design and compelling storytelling. Their unique approach blends strategic insight with creative skill, delivering tailored solutions that elevate brands and connect with audiences. Learn more by visiting www.clanincreative.com
This webinar is sponsored by the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC and presented in collaboration with Champaign County EDC, Champaign Center Partnership, Champaign County Chamber of Commerce, Champaign Public Library, Community Foundation of East Central Illinois, EDC of Decatur & Macon County, Experience Champaign-Urbana, Parkland College Community Education, and University of Illinois Research Park.

SBDC Workshop: Starting Your Business in Illinois
2025-11-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Illinois Small Business Development Center, 1817 S. Neil Street, Suite 100, Champaign, IL, 61820, United States
Presented by Madeleine Wolske, Director – Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC
Thinking about starting a business in Illinois? This workshop helps aspiring entrepreneurs understand the opportunities and requirements for starting their business. You’ll be taken step-by-step through a variety of topics and can ask questions.
Topics covered:

Introduction to the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC
Feasibility Checklist
Creating a Lean Business Plan
Identifying Your Customers
Sources of Funding, including Financing and Grant Options
Business Formation and Registration

Time: 6-8 PM
Dates:

Monday, July 21, 2025
Monday, August 18, 2025
Monday, September 15, 2025
Monday, October 20, 2025
Monday, November 24, 2025

Location: Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC, 1817 S. Neil Street, Suite 100, Champaign, IL 61820
Registration: No cost to attend, registration required to secure a spot. Materials will be provided. RSVP below.
