The Business Development Center at the Joseph Center® is comprised of the Illinois Small Business Development Center, Illinois APEX Accelerator, and Illinois International Trade Center programs and collectively, we are a vital asset for business owners as provide entrepreneurial growth in three distinct areas. We provide one-on-one business advising, networking opportunities, training workshops and assistance to entrepreneurs looking to improve business performance, productivity and profitability.
Established in 2005, the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the Joseph Center® was formed to provide business development services for local entrepreneurs, and it was the first faith-based SBDC in the United States. In 2016, we expanded our services to include government contracting and procurement technical assistance as we launched the APEX Accelerator program (formerly the Procurement Technical Assistance Center – PTAC), and in October of 2018, we launched our International Trade Center (ITC) which gives us the ability to support entrepreneurs export their products or services.
With each center specializing in various stages of business, we are able to assist entrepreneurs wherever they may be on their journey to success.
RESOURCES FOR BUSINESSES AT EVERY STAGE
Meet Our Host Site – The Joseph Center®
The Joseph Center® houses several world-class programs that focus on wealth creation, innovation, and entrepreneurial success, all centering around the mission of eradicating generational poverty. One of these programs includes the Joseph Business School (JBS) in Forest Park, IL, where our center is located.
JBS is a premier Christian business school that prepares kingdom minded entrepreneurs by combining traditional business skills and biblical principles to equip students to engage the marketplace from a Christian perspective.
