News & Events
News & Partner Profiles
Woodlawn Residential Commons: Building a more inclusive workforce on the South Side
The Woodlawn Residential Commons project, which opened in October 2020, employed a total of 68 workers, including Washington Park resident Michelle King, from the zip codes that represent the University’s nine-neighborhood focus area on the South Side according to contractor data.
Building Opportunity: Construction Diversity and Workforce Goals Channel UChicago’s Economic Power
Every time Jason Bonaparte drives by UChicago Medicine’s Center for Care and Discovery (CCD), he says, “I look up at that tall, shiny masterpiece and think: There’s my work.”
UChicago Invests in Local Businesses To Help Build a Stronger Community
The people in charge of buying supplies for large institutions can be a tough group to reach, according to Jackie Dyess, owner of Inter-City Supply, a Chatham-based distributor of janitorial and office supplies and a certified minority- and women-owned business enterprise (MWBE).
Programs and Events
Polsky Small Business Growth Program
The University of Chicago’s Polsky Small Business Growth Program supports small businesses owners to help them grow and scale their businesses.
With funding from JPMorgan Chase, and in partnership with the Office of Civic Engagement, this program is focused on minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned small businesses located on Chicago’s South and West Sides.
Small teams of University of Chicago students consult with the companies to help them address key business challenges and determine new strategies for business growth.
Community Business Workshops
The University of Chicago hosts monthly Community Business Workshop open to small business owners and entrepreneurs from neighboring communities and members of the Polsky Exchange.
The workshops are hosted by the Office of Civic Engagement, Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and IJ Clinic on Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago Law School, and sponsored by Union Bank. Through presentations and panel discussions, the workshops provide actionable and useful information to strengthen and grow a small business.
They cover such topics as negotiations, public relations, bookkeeping, and equity financing.
Turner School of Construction Management
The Turner School of Construction Management is a free, seven-week program led by Turner Construction, co-sponsored by the University of Chicago and held at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
The program is an intensive workshop designed to help minority- and women-owned construction businesses grow and succeed. Participants learn from industry experts about every aspect of running a construction business.
Please note: This program is on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.