The Illinois Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) at Bradley University is offering these educational opportunities, in collaboration with the Central Management Services, to enhance participation in the State of Illinois Business Enterprise Program and Veteran Business Program. The Illinois PTAC is supporting the Central Management Services to increase the number of certified vendor pools in the Business Enterprise Program. The Business Enterprise Program (BEP) for Minority, Women-Owned, and Persons with disabilities (M/W/PBE) and the Veteran Business Program (VBP) expands minority, women, persons with disabilities, veterans and service-disabled veteran entrepreneurs' opportunities to access government contracts and grow their businesses. When eligible companies are certified with the State of Illinois, they become more visible to prospective buyers, including other agencies and private contractors seeking to purchase goods and services. These No-Fee sessions will take you through three phases of status in the certification program and you are invited to participate in any or all of the events. The development of a new Fast Track Certification application is to leverage vendors currently certified with the City of Chicago and Cook County. The Recognition Application is the result of agreements that the Business Enterprise Program and Veteran Business Program have with other certifying agencies and offer a streamlined certification process for businesses currently certified by any of the following entities: • Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) • Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) • METRA • PACE • Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council • Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council • Women's Business Development Center • Cook County (Veteran/Services-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise) • United States Department of Veteran Affairs Center for Verification and Evaluations (CVE) VOSB/SDVOSB This session will discuss the BEP requirements if you are certified by one of the above certifying agencies including the documentation from these agencies. We will discuss how to complete the application as well as any difference in the term of the certification.
Bicentennial History Exhibit – On display July 13th – August 24th, 2025 at Five Points Washington
Bicentennial and historical images will be exhibited by the Washington Historical Society on the Community Gallery Wall at Five Points Washington. The carefully curated photographs selected for this exhibit give a unique insight into events, people, and places from Washington’s past. The selected photographs span the last 150 years of Washington’s history and feature community events and everyday life in Washington.
StoryWalk in Washington Park
Take a walk through Washington Park and enjoy a story as you stroll! Beginning at the parking lot located on the Lincoln Grade School side of Washington Park, follow the sidewalk to read a story. This two-month session’s book is Señorita Mariposa By Ben Gundersheimer and will be displayed through Tuesday, September 30th.
