Oakton to host Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion BEP and VBP Certification Kickstart Workshop

Skokie, Ill. (Aug. 18, 2026) - Calling on small, diverse and veteran-owned businesses ready to take the next step toward state certification. 

On Sept. 23, the Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion (CEI), in collaboration with state Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-8) and state Rep. Kevin Olickal (D-16), will host a free, interactive workshop for businesses at Oakton College. At the event, participants will learn how to navigate the state certification process and explore new procurement opportunities.

The in-person Business Enterprise Program (BEP) and Veterans Business Program (VBP) Certification Kickstart Workshop will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Oakton’s Ray Hartstein campus, Room P232, 7701 Lincoln Ave., Skokie. 

Get hands-on certification support

CEI’s new Certification Kickstart initiative strengthens the connection between outreach and certification outcomes, providing vendors with practical tools to navigate the application process. For this event, participants will receive step‑by‑step guidance on creating a certification profile, selecting the appropriate application type, uploading the required documents and completing all components of the BEP or VBP application. Certification experts will lead a live demonstration and provide real‑time assistance.

“Certification is a critical pathway for small and diverse businesses to participate in state contracting,” said Robin Streets, interim executive director of CEI. “Through this workshop, we are creating a true one‑stop process that supports successful certification completion by removing many of the typical challenges business owners face and providing hands‑on support every step of the way. Participants will even have access to on‑site affidavit notarization, ensuring they can complete their entire state certification application in one visit. Our goal is to make the process more accessible, more direct, and more achievable for every vendor, and we’re proud to have the full support of Senator Villivalam and Representative Olickal.”

The workshop is made possible through the partnership of Oakton College, Illinois APEX Accelerator, and the Asian American Chamber of Commerce, whose collaboration strengthens our shared commitment to expanding access to state certification and increasing equity and inclusion throughout the state’s procurement landscape.