Chicago City Wire

The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) has announced expanded business hours for its Small Business Resource Centers at O’Hare and Midway International Airports. These centers aim to provide technical assistance to prospective vendors interested in doing business with Chicago’s airports.

The Small Business Resource Centers offer a range of services, including one-on-one assistance, networking events, workshops on contract requirements, airfield tours for construction contractors, and printed resource guides.

The Midway Small Business Resource Center is located at 5642 S. Central Ave. It operates on Mondays from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Wednesdays from noon to 4:30 p.m., reachable by phone at 773-838-0829. The O’Hare Bid Room and Small Business Resource Center is situated at 10510 W. Zemke Road, open Tuesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursdays from noon to 4:30 p.m., with contact available via phone at 773-894-3730. Additional information can be obtained by emailing DoingBusinessCDA@CityofChicago.org.

"The resource centers are just one of many resources the CDA provides to support its commitment to creating opportunities for diverse local businesses to work at O’Hare and Midway," stated the CDA.

Last week, Mayor Brandon Johnson and the CDA unveiled the “ORDerUp!” Request for Proposals (RFP) for over a hundred new concessions locations in Terminals 1 and 3 at O’Hare. This represents one of the largest concessions bid opportunities in the airport’s history as part of efforts to modernize O’Hare’s terminal core. Details on this initiative can be found at flychicago.com/ConcessionsResources.

Additionally, the CDA will host an airfield tour for prospective construction contractors at O’Hare on Sept. 24. Interested contractors should sign up by Sept. 18 through flychicago.com/SmallBusiness.