Tobolski, Preckwinkle Announce New Veteran Business Outreach Initiative
Military veterans will be encouraged to certify with Cook County as Veterans Business Enterprises (VBEs), a designation which could help them in securing public sector business, under a resolution approved by the Cook County Board.
Spearheaded by Commissioner Jeffrey Tobolski, Chair of the County Board’s Veterans Affairs Committee, and supported by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and the full Cook County Board of Commissioners, the resolution calls on local elected officials, community organizations and not-for-profits to invite veteran-owned businesses to certify as VBEs with the County. To qualify, the business must be at least 51% veteran-owned and based in Illinois.
The new program will be supported by the John Marshall Law School’s Veteran’s Clinic. Brian Clauss, the director of the Veteran’s Clinic, has committed to assist any veteran-owned business, at no cost, with legal assistance in preparing an application for VBE certification document. The Cook County Office of Contract Compliance, which manages the certification process, has also committed to assist veteran-entrepreneurs who wish to certify.
Currently, Cook County provides a 5 percent veterans preference on County contracts. Additionally, VBEs certified with Cook County have reciprocal certification with the State of Illinois which also offers a veterans preference and veteran participation goals on all state contracts. As a bonus, women or minority veterans can certify as a VBE and as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and/or Women Business Enterprise (WBE) on the same application and also at no cost.
“As Chairman of the Veterans Committee, I pledge to find ways that the County can be more supportive of veterans. The best place to start is to encourage our veteran entrepreneurs to build businesses, certify as VBEs at the County which will then give them a leg-up on County procurement,” Tobolski said. “The County already has the VBE program and now with our partners at the John Marshall Law School, our vets can get the legal advice they need at no cost and meaningfully participate in an outstanding program.”
“I commend Commissioner Tobolski for his leadership on this issue,” said President Preckwinkle. “Cook County takes its responsibilities to veterans seriously, and it is through programs like this and the efforts of our Department of Veterans Affairs that we can assist and honor the service they have given to our nation.”
Training for lawyers who wish to volunteer with John Marshall will take place in June and an event for veteran entrepreneurs at John Marshall Law School is scheduled for July. Specific dates for each event will be announced soon.
Attorneys interested in volunteering with John Marshall should contact Eddie Olivieri in Commissioner Tobolski’s office at (312) 603-4735. Veteran business owners interested in certifying their businesses should contact Bill Browne, Cook County Director of Veterans Affairs, at (312) 603-6423.
