Founded in 1884 as a resource for Eastern European immigrants, Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) is an agency delivering a comprehensive selection of non-sectarian employment and training services. JVS helps a diverse population explore career choices and find jobs in a rapidly changing marketplace. People who benefit include executives and middle managers, entrepreneurs, women returning to the workforce, young professionals, students seeking college counseling or scholarship assistance, refugees, persons with disabilities and the economically disadvantaged.

Its Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the Duman Microenterprise Center provides one-on-one counseling at no charge for start-ups and pre-existing small businesses in the Chicago metropolitan area. The Center offers entrepreneurial training, business assistance, mentoring and access to capital since 2001 in partnership with with local banks, government agencies, business professionals, business schools, organizations and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. It provides training and education, business plan assessment, loan application assistance, technical assistance, entrepreneurial seminars and business educational training programs, pre-loan and post-loan consultations, networking opportunities, mentor matches, referrals to relevant business and community resources, zero and low interest loans depending upon eligibility as well as loans for start-ups or small business expansions, for entrepreneurs who cannot qualify for traditional bank financing and residents of the Chicago metropolitan area