Bally’s Chicago Casino to Host Diversity Vendor Fair on June 11 (Chicago, IL) — Bally’s Chicago Casino is hosting a Diversity Supplier Vendor Fair on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Chicago Teachers Union Hall, 1901 W. Carroll. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m.

“For Chicago’s first and only casino, it’s essential that our diverse business community is given ample opportunity to have a seat at the table,” said Ald. Walter Burnett Jr., whose 27th Ward is home to the future casino in River West. “I encourage all minority, women, veteran and disabled-owned businesses to attend the diversity vendor fair to explore potential opportunities for partnering with Bally’s.”

The vendor fair provides minority (MBE), women (WBE), veteran (VBE) owned businesses and Business Enterprises owned by People with Disabilities (BEPD) the opportunity to meet with representatives from Bally’s Chicago Casino’s Operation and Construction divisions. No prior diversity-related certifications are required to attend.

“This event is a wonderful opportunity for our local minority, women, veteran and disabled-owned businesses to network with industry leaders and showcase their breadth of experience,” said Raffi Sarrafian, Cook County’s Chief Procurement Officer. “By fostering these vital connections, we are not only supporting our diverse business community but also driving economic growth and inclusion across Cook County.”

Vendors can register to participate in the vendor fair by registering at the following link: https://casinos.ballys.com/chicago/vendors.htm

“Supporting local businesses, particularly those that represent the rich diversity of Chicago, is a key goal of Bally’s Chicago Casino and we are dedicated to partnering with them to create a thriving community where everyone has the opportunity to succeed,” said Mark Wong, VP and General Manager of Bally’s Chicago Casino. “We invite business owners to come out and connect with Bally’s buying departments and learn how to get certified as a diverse vendor if you haven’t done so already.”

A current vendor of Bally’s Chicago Casino is JR Dessert Bakery, a woman-owned business for more than 40 years in Chicago’s West Ridge neighborhood, located at 2841 W. Howard Street. JR Dessert Bakery provides pastries, cookies and more for Wabash Café at the Medinah Temple casino.

“We were thrilled when Bally’s reached out to us about a partnership at their new casino,” said JR Dessert Bakery owner Natalie Kaplan. “The leadership team is clearly invested in giving local minority- and women-owned companies as much business as possible. The onboarding process was seamless, and we have seen a steady stream of orders since day one.”

The following Bally’s divisions will be available to share information and answer questions

Purchasing
Marketing
Gaming Operations – Tables/Slots
Human Resources/Wardrobe
Food & Beverage
Facilities & Building Services
Security & Transportation
Finance & Player Services
IT
Permanent Facility Construction

Chicago Community Builders Collective (“CCBC”), the minority-led general contractor for building Bally’s Chicago Casino’s facility, will conduct a presentation regarding the upcoming scope of work opportunities on the permanent facility, during the vendor fair.

Scopes of Work to be presented:

Doors and Frames – Casino
Doors and Frames – Hotel
Doors and Frames – Event Center
Overhead Doors
Loading Dock, Vehicle and Pedestrian Equipment
Interior Glass Glazing
Hotel Glazing Visual Mockup
Other New Construction-related Scopes of Work

Overall, contractors, vendors and suppliers will gain comprehensive insight into the bid documents, the various scopes of work and any requirements for project consideration. Additionally, primes/tier-1 contractors, MBE/WBE/VBE/BEPD contractors, suppliers, vendors and other professional services firms are invited to come out to build partnerships with your peers and members of CCBC for other potential business opportunities.

Representatives from the City of Chicago’s Office of Contracting Equity, the Cook County Office of Contract Compliance, the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council (“ChicagoMSDC”) and the Women’s Business Development Center (“WBDC”) will also be on-site to conduct presentations and answer questions about completing their diversity certification application process.

Additional organizations represented at the fair include the State of Illinois Business Enterprise Program (BEP), and BMO Bank – Zero Barriers to Business program.

The event will also include an open forum for networking and a host of scheduled activities.

Bally’s Chicago Casino to Host Diversity Vendor Fair on June 11

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