Fall Business Impact Series
AABA 2026 Sponsorship Opportunities
Fall Business
Impact Series
People. Opportunities. Partnerships. Impact.
Four connected experiences with an expected reach of more than 1,000 entrepreneurs, business owners, and community members. One sponsorship that puts your organization at the center of business growth in Will County.
Building Stronger Businesses. Together.
Put your brand where business moves.
AABA's year-end programming brings together entrepreneurs, business owners, community members, corporate partners, elected officials, bankers, and stakeholders through education, technology, market access, capital readiness, networking, and celebration.
For organizations committed to community investment, economic opportunity, and the growth of local businesses, sponsorship is a direct way to create meaningful pathways for entrepreneurs while building lasting relationships within the Will County business community.
Why sponsor?
One investment positions your organization across a connected platform for business education, market access, credit and capital readiness, technology adoption, visibility, and community impact.
The Year-End Platform
Four high-impact experiences
Each event meets business owners where they are, from getting certified to selling to customers to connecting with lenders.
GATA Certification Lunch & Learn
Certification education, technical assistance, resource connections, and clearer pathways to procurement and contracting.
AABA Holiday Marketplace
A high-visibility vendor marketplace designed for customer exposure, sales, publicity, networking, and community engagement. Shop. Support. Celebrate Black businesses.
Year-End Celebration + Credit & Capital Cohort Graduation
Graduation, awards, dinner, pitches, networking, and direct connections to bankers, mentors, corporate leaders, and partners.
AI Lunch & Learn Series
Practical AI capability for small businesses: marketing, websites, workforce agents, finance, proposals, data safety, policy, and implementation.
Sponsor support makes access possible
Your investment helps underwrite venues, vendor booths, meals, awards, marketing, graduation materials, technical assistance, speakers, programming, and reduced or free admission for entrepreneurs.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Choose your level of impact
Every level supports entrepreneur access. Choose the benefits that fit your organization, from promotional recognition to Platinum opportunities for remarks and direct engagement.
Platinum
$2,000
Greatest visibility
- AABA Business Gold Membership
- 4 tickets across applicable events
- Premier recognition across promotions
- Logo on marketing, invitations, and signage
- Marketplace remarks opportunity
- Award presentation opportunity
- Sponsor table or display at select events
- Meet cohort graduates and entrepreneurs
- Vendor access where applicable
Gold
$1,000
- 3 tickets to the Year-End Celebration
- Logo on applicable marketing and signage
- Recognition across AABA promotional channels
Community
$500
- 2 tickets to the Year-End Celebration
- Logo or name on select materials and signage
- Recognition for supporting entrepreneur access
Select your desired sponsorship level on the agreement form. Benefits apply as described above.
Your Sponsorship at Work
What your investment makes possible
Access
Reduce barriers to participation so more entrepreneurs can attend, learn, and sell.
Visibility
Put local businesses in front of customers at a marketplace expected to welcome 700+ people.
Readiness
Strengthen certification and capital readiness through education and technical assistance.
Connection
Create direct access to lenders, mentors, corporate leaders, and decision-makers.
Get Involved
More than a logo
Share your engagement interests in the agreement form. Opportunities depend on your selected sponsorship level and applicable events, with details confirmed by AABA:
Present an award
Sponsor table
Distribute materials
Meet cohort graduates
Sponsor an entrepreneur
Participate in the AABA Marketplace
Become a 2026 Year-End Sponsor
Three simple steps
Choose your level
Select Platinum ($2,000), Gold ($1,000), or Community ($500) and note any engagement opportunities you'd like.
Complete the agreement
Complete the online sponsorship agreement with your organization and contact information, selected sponsorship level, and engagement interests.
Confirm the details
Indicate your preferred payment method: invoice, check, or credit card. AABA will contact you to confirm payment, logo, and engagement details.
Invest in the businesses shaping Will County's future
We welcome the opportunity to discuss how your organization can participate in a way that aligns with your community investment and business-development priorities.