IL Economic Empowerment Center at SIU

06/23/2026

Curious about how AI can support your small business? Don’t miss this free workshop next Tuesday, June 30 at Dunn-Richmond! Registration is required, secure your spot today.

Unlocking AI: Empowering Tools to Grow Your Business

Registration is required: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/E0LF9wyFAv

Tuesday, June 30, 5:00- 6:30pm
Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center
1740 Innovation Drive
Carbondale, IL

This workshop introduces small business owners and entrepreneurs to practical, easy-to-use artificial intelligence tools that can improve marketing, streamline operations, and support business growth.

Through real-world examples, hands-on activities, and guided instruction, participants will learn how to communicate effectively with AI, use it responsibly, and identify opportunities to increase productivity and efficiency.

No technical background is required.

Sponsored By: SIU Broadband Ready and the Illinois Broadband Lab

06/10/2026

Thank you for your interest in the Illinois Economic Empowerment Center at SIU (EEC).

Small business resources and support are available through the SIU Small Business Development Center online at sbdc.siu.edu, by phone at (618) 536-2424, or by email at [email protected].

For government contracting assistance, the APEX Accelerator is available online at apex.siu.edu, by phone at (618) 536-2355, or by email at [email protected].

On-demand EEC courses are also available at econpower.siu.edu

Stay tuned for updates on future EEC programming.

05/29/2026

Meet Kathryn Chaney, Launch That Business graduate and founder of Quill & Scrolls, a bookish-themed small business bringing the magic of surprise and story to readers everywhere. 📚✨

Here's how it works: customers choose their genre and receive a mystery book wrapped up with bookmarks, stickers, highlighters, notebooks, and more. Plus bookish mugs, tote bags, glasses, and pens for the reader in your life. It's a book lover's dream.

Kathryn came to the EEC feeling overwhelmed by the behind-the-scenes work of starting a business. She left with the tools and confidence to move forward on her own terms. "Each section was broken down into easy-to-follow steps, and the one-on-one sessions answered any lingering questions."

Next up for Quill & Scrolls: website sales, vendor events, and a dedicated workspace. Watch out for her at a market near you! 🛒

📘 facebook.com/groups/1876573056510324

05/28/2026

There's still time to register!
Happening tomorrow in Anna!

Grow Local: Marketing Your Business in Today’s World
If you’ve been wanting to get better at marketing your business but aren’t sure where to start this is for you.

Join us on May 29th at the Union County Extension Center in Anna, IL for a series of practical sessions you can actually use right away. Come for one or stay for all!

🕒 Sessions include:
• 8:30–9:30 AM | AI for Marketing
Simple ways to use AI to create content and save time
• 10:00–11:00 AM | Digital Marketing Foundations
Get your messaging right and make sure your Google profile and website are working for you
• 12:30–1:30 PM | Digital Design Tools
Learn how to create clean, professional graphics (yes, even if you’re not “creative”)
• 2:00–3:00 PM | Social Media
What to post, where to post, and how to actually reach people

👉 You can attend one session or all four, whatever works for your schedule.
⚠️ Space is limited, so be sure to sign up soon!

Register here: https://ilsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/41847
Questions? Call or email Mackenzie at 618-634-3364, [email protected]

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05/28/2026

The Healthcare Asylum | EEC Client Spotlight 🏥🎙️
Healers deserve a place to heal too.

Steven Nickens, Medical Assistant and former Deputy Sheriff, and Andrea Yisrael, RN and Legal Nurse Consultant, founded The Healthcare Asylum after living the burnout themselves — a multimedia storytelling and advocacy platform built to give frontline healthcare workers a safe, judgment-free space to be heard.
CNAs. LPNs. RNs. EMTs. Home health workers. The people who show up every day carrying an emotional weight most of us never see — The Healthcare Asylum was built for them.

Andrea came to the Illinois Economic Empowerment Center at SIU to help bring that vision to life, gaining tools in organizational formation, digital presence, business planning, and marketing strategy along the way.
The Healthcare Asylum may have run its course, but their work is still out there — and worth a watch. 🎙️ youtube.com/

And Andrea is just getting started. She's got new projects in the works and we can't wait to see what she builds next. 👀
"Most importantly, trust your voice. Your story and your purpose matter just as much as the product or service you're building."

We'll be cheering her on every step of the way. 🌟

05/27/2026

Meet Thomas Speakman, founder of River to River Mobile Rock Chip Repair and Launch That Business graduate! 🏍️🪟

River to River is a Southern Illinois family business that comes straight to you to repair windshield rock chips and cracks, and yes, Thomas shows up on a motorcycle. He's the only one in the area doing it that way.

Thomas came to the EEC through the SBDC ready to learn, and 11 weeks later walked away with a sharper logo, organized finances, and a much bigger picture of what running a business actually takes.
"There is so much more to business than opening up shop and selling!"

But for Thomas, the biggest shift wasn't just practical. It was about purpose.
"This business is more than just windshield repairs. It's for my kids, it's for my community, it's for future generations."

We're so proud to be part of that journey. 🎉

📧 [email protected]
River to River Mobile Rock Chip Repair

05/25/2026

The Illinois Economic Empowerment Center at SIU will be closed today in observance of Memorial Day. We honor all who have served.
We'll be back Tuesday, during regular business hours.

05/22/2026

Meet Bridgette Gembe, recent Launch That Business graduate and founder of Nibble Nibble LLC™, a vibrant Mexican snack and ice cream concept bringing authentic flavors, fun treats, and serious community vibes to Southern Illinois. 🍭🥭🍦

From mangonadas and aguas frescas to Mexican candy, chips, and handcrafted specialty desserts, Nibble Nibble is all about that sweet, spicy, fruity magic that keeps people coming back.

Bridgette found the EEC through Facebook and said learning alongside fellow entrepreneurs made the whole journey feel possible. She's now gearing up for pop-ups, events, and pre-orders, with a brick-and-mortar location on the horizon in the next 1-2 years.

"It was amazing getting to learn and talk more about starting my business and getting to speak with others on why they wanted to start as well." - Bridgette

Stay tuned, because you're going to want to find Nibble Nibble at an event near you. 🎉

📧 [email protected]
📘 https://www.facebook.com/NibbleNibbleLLCTM