HR0762 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0762 LRB103 40543 LAW 73061 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Jacqueline "Jackie" Jackson on the occasion of being named the 2024 Illinois Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Great Lakes region; and

WHEREAS, Jackie Jackson received the Illinois Small Business Person of the Year award during National Small Business Week, which took place from April 28 to May 4, 2024, in recognition of 33.5 million small businesses across the U.S. that power the national economy and serve as the backbone of local communities; and

WHEREAS, A native of Chicago, Jackie Jackson is a former teacher and property investor turned franchise owner of Kilwins, a Michigan-based chocolatier and ice cream shop, beginning her operations in 2008 with one Kilwins shop in Orland Park and 10 employees; today, she owns five Kilwins shops in the Chicago area and employs more than 75 people; and

WHEREAS, Jackie Jackson's business journey has not been without its pitfalls, including store break-ins, the COVID-19 pandemic, personal challenges, and operational struggles such as inflation; despite these challenges, she has persevered through adversity, with the SBA noting that she serves as a model of resilience, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit; and

WHEREAS, Jackie Jackson has bestowed her business acumen on her daughter, Janel Jackson, who has worked at Kilwins since she was 14 years old and became her mother's business partner after graduating from college; and

WHEREAS, Ever the entrepreneur, Jackie Jackson has expressed plans to expand her Kilwins Hyde Park through opening an outdoor patio space, or "Chocolate Garden", behind the store in July 2024; before that, she plans to open a Fatburger franchise in the Chatham neighborhood of Chicago in June 2024; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Jacqueline "Jackie" Jackson on being named the 2024 Illinois Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Great Lakes region, and we wish her continued success; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Jackie Jackson as an expression of our esteem and respect.