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The WBDC, since Emilia’s arrival, has dramatically expanded its direct lending program with now a pool of nearly $1.7 million. It has also expanded the Latina business programs offering bi-lingual business services, developed an eLearning library, launched an entrepreneurship program to serve military veterans, and opened six new offices.
Emilia is well-known for her contributions to leading civic and professional organizations. Emilia holds B.S. and M.B.A. degrees, both in finance, from DePaul University
President and Chief Executive Officer
The WBDC is a 32-year-old, 501(c)(3), nationally recognized leader in the field of economic development that provides programs and services to support and accelerate business ownership, create jobs, and fuel economic growth, leading to stronger communities. The WBDC was founded on the concept of inclusive entrepreneurship targeting women and serving all underserved communities.
The three points of differentiation at the WBDC among other economic development organizations are technical assistance capability, access to capital, and certification and contracting expertise. InventIllinois, the newest program, is a natural extension of these three capabilities as it provides an additional source of capital to meet early stage client needs.
The WBDC understands the technical assistance that its clients require through the 5,000 hours of business counseling it delivers every year. The WBDC's expertise in government and private sector contracting has resulted in our clients winning on average $40 million annually in government contracts