Local, State, and Federal Agencies
Business Resources
important links to local, state, and federal agencies & resources
Links & Resources
BBB Accredited Business
How to become a BBB Accredited Business.
Business Resources
The BBB® is here to help with the many different aspects of running your business. Whether you’re looking to grow your business, learn something new, manage relationships with your customers, or more, you’re in the right place!
In Pursuit of Ethics Program
In Pursuit of Ethics is a program that will teach students how to recognize ethical dilemmas and make good choices that will ultimately help them build a good reputation and be an asset to their peers, the community, and the workforce.
TORCH Awards for Ethics
Recognizing organizations that meet the highest standard of trust.
The Consumer Price Index
This is a website that measures inflation as experienced by consumers in their day-to-day living expenses and is used as an economic indicator. The site also contains an inflation calculator.
Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
This interesting site provides data on local governments. By selecting a county from the electronic atlas, users can obtain a list of the commonly requested information. On the following level, cities selected in the designated county will provide additional information.
Illinois Retail Merchants Association
Illinois State Library
Find-It! Illinois, the Illinois State Library's one-stop source for Illinois library, government, and educational information.
IndustryNet™
Searchable database buyers guide of 600,000 U.S. manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and services. Locate manufacturing products, services, and suppliers among 10,000 product categories.
Internal Revenue Service
Department of the Treasury
Manufacturers' News, Inc.
Since 1912, MNI has been the most trusted source for comprehensive business information profiling over 400,000 U.S. manufacturers. Directories and databases are customized by geography, industry, and size.
University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs
Public Policy Reports
U.S. Small Business Association
The official resource to help businesses quickly find compliance information, forms, and contacts from multiple U.S. government websites.
USAGov
Formerly known as the Federal Citizen Information Center.
Federal
Small Business Development Center
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges
U.S. Department of Commerce
Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Census, Economic Development Assistance & Economic Data
U.S. Small Business Administration
State of Illinois
Illinois Department of Commerce / Community Affairs
Illinois On-Site Safety & Health Consultation Program
The Illinois On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program assists employers in identifying potential safety and health concerns to reduce injury and illness rates, decrease worker compensation costs, and increase productivity.
City of Effingham
Federal
Federal Employer ID Number
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, and is used to identify a business entity.
U.S. Department of Labor
Laws and regulations, statistics and date
U.S. Department of Labor Employment & Training Administration
Labor Market Information, Welfare to Work, Employment Training Programs, Workforce Development
U.S. Department of Labor FMLA Poster
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Poster
State of Illinois
Illinois Department of Labor
Mission: The mission of the Illinois Department of Labor is to protect and promote the wages, welfare, working conditions, and safety of Illinois workers by enforcing State labor and employment laws, providing compliance assistance to employers, and increasing public awareness of workplace protections. Through enforcement, education, and community partnerships, the Department works to ensure that workers are paid what they are owed and that employers who follow the law remain competitive.
Paid Leave for All Workers Act
THE PAID LEAVE FOR ALL WORKERS ACT TOOK EFFECT JANUARY 1, 2024. The Paid Leave for All Workers Act (PLAWA) allows workers to earn up to 40 hours of leave from work each year.
Required Posters & Disclosures
Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR)
The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules is a bipartisan legislative oversight committee created by the General Assembly in 1977.
Illinois Department of Employment Security
Illinois On-Site Safety & Health Consultation Program
The Illinois On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program assists employers in identifying potential safety and health concerns to reduce injury and illness rates, decrease worker compensation costs, and increase productivity.
State of Illinois All Kids Covered Program
Making health care a reality for hundreds of thousands of families across the state.
Illinois workNet Center
The State of Illinois workforce portal.
City of Effingham
City of Effingham Mayor & City Council
Find information about the Effingham City Council, including current members, meeting schedules, and contact details. Stay informed and engaged with local government decisions and initiatives.
Effingham County
Effingham County Board Members
This link provides a comprehensive list of the current Effingham County Board Members, including their names, districts, and contact information. It serves as a reference for community members seeking to connect with their local representatives.
State of Illinois
State of Illinois Executive Branch
The Illinois Executive Branch comprises six elected officials—Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer—along with numerous departments responsible for implementing state laws and overseeing government operations.
Federal
Environmental Protection Agency
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Contains various types of bank data, quarterly financial reports, comparisons of individual banks with each other, and aggregate statistics.
Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert is a publication that summarizes rules and regulations proposed during the previous week that would potentially affect small businesses.
SBA Regulatory Assistance
Provides small businesses with access to laws and regulations from all three levels of government, compliance assistance guides from key federal regulatory agencies, and some online licensing and permitting at the state level.
Tradeport
Export Documents
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO)
Information on PTO's services and databases to search for similar invention patents.
U.S. Treasury Department
Office of Procurement, Small Business Assistance, Internal Revenue Service, Taxpayer Education
State of Illinois
Illinois Department of Revenue
Business Registration, Retailers Occupation Tax Number, Resale Certificate Number
Illinois Secretary of State Business Service Department
Business Incorporation Assistance
Illinois On-Site Safety & Health Consultation Program
The Illinois On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program assists employers in identifying potential safety and health concerns to reduce injury and illness rates, decrease worker compensation costs, and increase productivity.
Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
Emergency Small Business Grants and Loans Assistance
Illinois DCEO – Small Business Assistance
The State of Illinois is here to help. We’ve created a clearinghouse of information for entrepreneurs on starting a new business, a one-stop shop for all things startup. Your road to business ownership begins here.
Illinois DCEO - Illinois Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)
Illinois Small Business Development Centers are located throughout the state and provide information, confidential business guidance, training, and other resources for start-ups and existing small businesses.
Illinois DCEO - Loans and Financing Options
Access to capital and locating funding are often the most difficult tasks for any company seeking to develop their products and services and grow their company. The Illinois Department of Commerce can work with your business to identify and secure financing opportunities and build a network of financial support that will meet your present needs and prepare you for future growth.
Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation
Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation’s mission is to "cultivate philanthropy to build better communities." We carry out this mission by helping individuals, families and organizations make permanent charitable investments for the long-term benefit of their hometowns
US Chamber of Commerce
10 Free Resources for Small Businesses to Leverage Year-Round
US Small Business Administration
SBA works to ignite change and spark action so small businesses can confidently start, grow, expand, or recover.