The city of Chicago will hold a free, online conference for small businesses Thursday, during a time when government resources are in flux because of federal restructuring."Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, driving innovation, creating jobs and contributing to the character of Chicag o’s communities,” said Ivan Capifali, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, which is organizing the event.The Chicago Small Business Expo “will provide current and future business owners with knowledge about the resources available to them at the local level, such as access to capital and networking opportunities,” Capifali said in an emailed statement.The conference, which runs from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., includes a webinar on local, state and federal government resources for small businesses. It will feature speakers from Cook County Small Business Source, Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity and U.S. Small Business Administration.Another webinar will discuss small business funding in the local community, including grants, low-interest loans and microloans. Panelists include neighborhood business development centers such as Allies for Community Business, Women's Business Development Center and Score.Brenda Palms, CEO of the North Lawndale Employment Network, will give the keynote address. Palms is also founder of Sweet Beginnings, which offers jobs to formerly incarcerated people. The company manages bee farms in the Chicago area, including in North Lawndale, at O’Hare Airport, Roosevelt University's Schaumburg campus and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County Trailside Museum, according to its website. Brenda Palms, CEO of North Lawndale Employment Network and founder of Sweet BeginningsSweet Beginnings The event takes place after the Small Business Administration announced Friday that it will cut its workforce by 43%, or about 2,700 jobs, as part of a reorganization. The federal agency was established in 1953 to offer resources to small businesses.Earlier this month, the SBA said it will relocate its regional office out of Chicago and five other sanctuary cities as punishment for not complying with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s efforts to detain immigrants. However, the agency did not announce the relocation of its larger Illinois district office, which shares the same space as the regional hub that oversees six states.The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection holds a virtual small business conference and several in-person expos each year.“This expo is essential in equipping all participants, including immigrant entrepreneurs, with the knowledge and resources needed to succeed in today’s business landscape,” Mario Hernández, director of public affairs for Western Union, a sponsor of the expo, said in a news release.Capifali said, “Immigrant entrepreneurs are a vital part of our local economy, and we recognize the unique challenges they face, including language barriers and understanding the regulatory landscape. Therefore, BACP offers licensing assistance and educational resources in multiple languages.”Attendees can register at Chicago.gov/BizExpo.Contributing: AP ...read more read less