During this time of crisis, the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation & the Harry L. Davis Center for Leadership at the University of Chicago are launching the Small Business Circle, a virtual place where small business owners can take a few steps out of the fray and connect with fellow business owners to take stock of your current challenges and opportunities, receive coaching from an expert, and also learn from your fellow business owners.

This monthly program will bring a small group of business owners like yourself together with a coach to meet May through July. During these monthly meetings, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Share your current challenges and receive coaching from an executive or business coach

• Connect with a group of fellow community business owners to share experiences and learning

• Identify a key action or two that you can commit to that will make a difference for you or your business during this time

• Create ways to support each other and be supported through this crisis

Companies that have been in business for at least one year are eligible to apply. Preference will be given for minority-owned, women-owned, or veteran-owned small businesses that are located on the South and West sides of Chicago.

The first group sessions will take place from Tuesday, May 5 through Thursday, May 7th through Zoom and will run for 90 minutes. The subsequent sessions will be scheduled the first week of the month. Program participants are expected to attend all sessions through July.