HR0762LRB103 40543 LAW 73061 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives wish to congratulate Jacqueline "Jackie" 
4Jackson on the occasion of being named the 2024 Illinois Small 
5Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business 
6Administration (SBA) Great Lakes region; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Jackie Jackson received the Illinois Small 
8Business Person of the Year award during National Small 
9Business Week, which took place from April 28 to May 4, 2024, 
10in recognition of 33.5 million small businesses across the 
11U.S. that power the national economy and serve as the backbone 
12of local communities; and
 
13    WHEREAS, A native of Chicago, Jackie Jackson is a former 
14teacher and property investor turned franchise owner of 
15Kilwins, a Michigan-based chocolatier and ice cream shop, 
16beginning her operations in 2008 with one Kilwins shop in 
17Orland Park and 10 employees; today, she owns five Kilwins 
18shops in the Chicago area and employs more than 75 people; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Jackie Jackson's business journey has not been 
20without its pitfalls, including store break-ins, the COVID-19 
21pandemic, personal challenges, and operational struggles such 
22as inflation; despite these challenges, she has persevered 
 
 
HR0762- 2 -LRB103 40543 LAW 73061 r

1through adversity, with the SBA noting that she serves as a 
2model of resilience, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit; 
3and
 
4    WHEREAS, Jackie Jackson has bestowed her business acumen 
5on her daughter, Janel Jackson, who has worked at Kilwins 
6since she was 14 years old and became her mother's business 
7partner after graduating from college; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Ever the entrepreneur, Jackie Jackson has 
9expressed plans to expand her Kilwins Hyde Park through 
10opening an outdoor patio space, or "Chocolate Garden", behind 
11the store in July 2024; before that, she plans to open a 
12Fatburger franchise in the Chatham neighborhood of Chicago in 
13June 2024; therefore, be it
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
15HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
16we congratulate Jacqueline "Jackie" Jackson on being named the 
172024 Illinois Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. 
18Small Business Administration (SBA) Great Lakes region, and we 
19wish her continued success; and be it further
 
20    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
21presented to Jackie Jackson as an expression of our esteem and 
22respect.