Illinois EPA – Office of Small Business

• http://www.epa.state.il.us/small-business/
• Provides Helpline (both phone and online) for compliance assistance.
• Provides links to fact sheets with environmental information.

The Illinois Chamber

• http://www.ilchamber.org/
• Members can take advantage of savings and discounts on quality services such as health cost control programs, affordable health insurance, and a Human Resources helpline.
• Provide environmental assistance through Illinois Environmental Regulatory Group (IERG).

Illinois Waste Management and Research Center

• http://www.wmrc.uiuc.edu/main_sections/tech_assist/env_man_systems.cfm
• Engineers help reduce solid waste or toxic releases to water and air.
• Help reduce regulatory compliance costs.
• Help reduce waste monitoring, treatment, disposal costs.

Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center (IMEC)

• http://www.imec1.org/imec.nsf
• Provides assistance in the following areas:
  • Lean manufacturing (i.e. operational strategy to reduce cycle time and eliminate waste; can reduce time between customer order and shipment)
  • Information Technology services
  • Business alignment services

Illinois Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program

• http://www2.illinoisbiz.biz/osha/index.htm
• Funded through OSHA, but consultants do not report information to OSHA.
• Consultants visit facility free of charge, may even recommend site for a two-year exclusion from OSHA inspections if program goals are met.
• Consultants do not disrupt business – do audits at company’s convenience.

Chicago Manufacturing Center

• http://www.cmcusa.org/index2.cfm
• Provides assistance in the following areas:
  • Lean manufacturing
  • Information Technology services
  • Business alignment services (i.e. alignment of an organizations IT strategy with its business strategy)