The PIPE Program
Eligibility Criteria
Participant Requirements:
✔ Must be employed by a certified MBE, WBE or DBE company (certified by NMSDC, City of Chicago, Cook County, BEP or equivalent entity)
✔ Officers or key employees with basic business knowledge
✔ One applicant per company
Company Requirements:
✔ 3+ years in business
✔ Annual revenue between $100,000 – $50 million
✔ Minimum of 3 full- or part-time employees
✔ Priority consideration for food/facility services companies
Cost: $2,500 per participant (Full scholarships available for qualifying businesses)
Program Dates: TBD
Class Time: Tuesdays | 3:00 – 6:00 PM CST | Virtual
Weekly Course Breakdown
Week 1 – Strategic Planning Skills
Clarify goals and use business intelligence for smarter decision-making.
Week 2 – Managing Organizational Goals
Learn to turn strategy into action with tactical goal-setting and team planning.
Week 3 – Business Ethics
Understand the importance of values and ethics in scaling responsibly.
Week 4 – Financial Management/Project Management I
Explore the financial lifecycle, risk management, and teamwork.
Week 5 – Project Management II
Dive deeper into budgeting, progress tracking, reporting, and closeout.
Week 6 – Introduction to Supply Chain Management
Unpack supply chain theory and its role in strategic planning.
Week 7 – Elements of Supply Chain
Review operations, logistics, and service delivery for performance impact.
Week 8 – Process Improvement
Tie it all together—learn tools to evaluate and enhance your business systems.
Ready to Apply?
Apply now to secure your spot. Scholarships are limited.
Questions?
Contact Neda Sharp, Director of Program Development
programs@chicagomsdc.org
PIPE Program-Cohort 3
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