The partnership creates an opportunity for business owners and students to gain business knowledge and college credit
CHICAGO—Today, Mayor Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) and City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) launched a partnership to expand the benefits of the BACP Entrepreneur Certificate Program which aims to increase public access to business education for current and aspiring business owners and students.
“Chicago’s entrepreneurs and businesses are the backbone of our city, and we must ensure they have the tools to succeed,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “The partnership will strengthen our aspiring and existing business owners with knowledge as well as a college credit that can support their long-term success. By investing in people’s potential, we are investing in Chicago’s local economy.”
To watch the full press conference on the City of Chicago’s FB page, click here.
The BACP Entrepreneur Certificate Program offers an opportunity for aspiring and established business owners to gain formal recognition for the skills and knowledge they’ve developed through real-world experience—which also allows them to earn college credit for Business 111, a foundational course in business principles at City Colleges of Chicago. The program is designed to help Chicagoans develop key business skills, from financial literacy and marketing to business compliance. For information, visit Chicago.gov/BACPCertificate.
This partnership builds on the success of the BACP Entrepreneur Certificate program, in which more than 1,000 Chicago entrepreneurs and business owners have successfully completed the program. The process is simple, participants:
- Attend: Attend six webinars in designated categories within six months. Register for upcoming webinars by visiting Chicago.gov/BACPWebinars.
- Graduate from the program: Within a week of attending the final webinar, a certificate will be made available.
After BACP program completion, Credit for Prior Learning (“CPL”) can be received by:
- City Colleges of Chicago current students and applicants
- Providing proof of completion of the Certificate Program
- Completing the CPL Consent Form
- Passing the Institutional Challenge Exam – BUS 111 taken digitally via Olive Harvey College. An administrative fee is applied at the time of exam.
“The expansion of BACP’s long-standing Entrepreneur Certificate Program marks a significant investment in the future of our business owners and communities,” said BACP Commissioner Ivan Capifali. “This partnership ensures broader accessibility to valuable tools and knowledge and underscores the city-wide support available for businesses.”
“This partnership reflects our deep commitment to empowering Chicago’s entrepreneurs with the tools they need to succeed,” said Chancellor Juan Salgado, City Colleges of Chicago. “By recognizing the value of real-world learning through the BACP Entrepreneur Certificate Program, we’re opening more doors for aspiring business owners to access college credit and continue their education.”
The opportunity to receive CCC CPL will be retroactive to all those who completed the BACP Entrepreneur Certificate Program. In 2024, BACP redesigned the BACP Entrepreneur Certificate Program to make completing the program easier, quicker, and more efficient. Part of the redesign included a new program portal giving the participant full access to progress and completion details. For information, visit Chicago.gov/BACPCertificate.
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About City Colleges of Chicago
City Colleges of Chicago is the city’s most accessible higher education engine of socioeconomic mobility, empowering all Chicagoans to take part in building a stronger Chicago. Learn more about City Colleges of Chicago by visiting www.ccc.edu or click here.
About the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection
The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) ensures a fair and vibrant marketplace for businesses, workers and consumers in the City of Chicago. BACP licenses businesses and public vehicles, regulates business activity, protects consumers from fraud, enforces Chicago’s labor laws, partners with business service organizations and provides education and resources for businesses. For more information, visit Chicago.gov/BACP.