DRIVING MOMENTUM TO BE FREE
ERP's goal is to build & repair community, civil and social ecosystems that engage with the justice impacted.
“Take advantage of every opportunity; where there is none, make it for yourself.” Marcus Garvey
LEGAL
Access to pro bono and low-cost legal services for vulnerable persons is essential for an equitable legal system. The ABA is working to remove barriers to civil justice for low-income and disadvantaged people.
Submit a complaint to the Department of Justice
The basic function of the Freedom of Information Act is to ensure informed citizens, vital to the functioning of a democratic society.
JOBS
Job training center for Construction Technology careers
City Colleges Apprenticeship program for jobs in Health Care, Information Technology, Manufacturing Technology, Culinary Arts & Hospitality, Transportation, Distribution & Logistics and Business & Retail Management.
BUSINESS
Starting a Business in Illinois
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity provides free small business assistance through confidential business guidance, training and other resources to start-up and existing small businesses. Illinois Small Business Development Centers are located throughout the state of Illinois.
On June 25, 2019, Illinois made history by becoming the 11th state to legalize recreational cannabis — and the first state to do so through legislation rather than a ballot initiative. Under the state’s Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, adults aged 21 and older will be allowed to purchase recreational cannabis products beginning January 1, 2020.
License types
Applications for craft grow, infuser, and transportation licenses will be made available from the Department of Agriculture. - Learn More -
Understanding Adult Use Cannabis
- Learn More -
Illinois Adult-Use Cannabis and Social Equity
The State of Illinois is committed to ensuring that communities historically impacted by the criminalization of cannabis have an opportunity to participate in the legal cannabis industry. In order to address the impact on those communities, the Act establishes a program for Social Equity Applicants who meet the following criteria:
City of Chicago Neighborhood Opportunity Fund
The Neighborhood Opportunity Fund finances commercial and cultural projects in neighborhoods that lack private investment, using revenue generated from downtown development.
Chicago Pop-Up Shop Initiative
Pop-Up Shop initiative allows business licenses, retail entrepreneurs and restaurateurs will be able to obtain a short-term license that is not location-based, which will enable them to operate in temporary commercial locations throughout Chicago.
Chicago Business License
Small Business Loans
Accion makes loans to startup and existing small businesses that qualify ranging from $500 to $100,000. Accion offers fast turnaround and flexible requirements.
Chicago Neighborhood Initiative's Micro-Finance Group (CNIMFG) makes loans up to $50,000 to new and existing small businesses operating primarily in economically underserved communities in Chicago
Community Reinvestment Fund provides term loans $150,000 to $4,000,0000 for capital to underserved small business owners including minorities, women and veterans, and businesses located/or willing to locate in low-income communities.
The Duman Entrepreneurship Center Loan Fund makes loans up to $15,000 to businesses who can demonstrate that the loan will help grow the business. These are 3-year term loans, with very low-interest rates and no penalty for early repayment. There is a low loan application fee and closing cost.
Women's Business Development Center makes loans up to $25,000 to new and existing small businesses in the City of Chicago and are targeted towards businesses operating in low to moderate-income communities.
SomerCor assists small businesses with loans $50,000 - $250,000 that oftentimes might fall under the radar of commercial lending institutions. These loans assist in small business growth, job creation, and economic development.
Small Business Grants
West Side United awards grants to West Side businesses that seek to strengthen their communities, in the amount of $1,000-$15,000.
Eddie Ash// Founder & CEO // Eradicate Recidivism Project // ERP// All Rights Reserved © 2022