Grant Expert Tells 35 Entrepreneurs to Stop Chasing Money… and Start Doing This Instead

When the Southland Development Authority (SDA) launched its first-ever Coffee Connections speaker series this past July, no one knew what to expect. But by the time Dr. Marva Smith finished her talk, it was obvious something had clicked. And this wasn’t just another networking event.

That hot summer morning in July brought together 35 small business owners, entrepreneurs, and lenders to the patio at Gaston’s Bistro in Orland Park. Huntington Bank and US Bank served as the event’s sponsors, with US Bank providing breakfast and Huntington showing up in full force with their own ice cream truck.

“Huntington is thrilled to sponsor Coffee Connections,” said Alberto Perez, Assistant Vice President and Branch General Manager. “We are all about supporting our entrepreneurs and creating amazing networking opportunities for them because, as we know, networking is the key to success for small businesses. Our strength comes from the communities we serve, and by coming together, we can create a brighter future for everyone.”

While the food and ice cream were a hit, it was Dr. Smith’s talk on grants, funding strategy, and business readiness that stole the show. “So, really talking to the business owners about what (being in business) means. Not just being in business, but understanding what it means to do business. And making sure you have your documents in order. A lot of times, we’re seeking funding but we can’t provide the data that’s necessary.”

Dr. Smith’s advice came down to this: You can’t chase funding with your plans stuck in your head. Budgeting, documentation, and planning are foundational. And they are not optional.

“One of the things people told me they really connected with was my acronym ‘REST.’ It stands for Reflection, Evaluation, Systems, and Try it,” she said. “You reflect on what you did, evaluate what worked, build the systems to improve it, and then try again.”

Since the event, Dr. Smith has received multiple calls and emails from attendees. She is now mentoring one of them. Another asked her to speak at an upcoming event. It’s all the more impressive when you consider this was her first in-person speaking engagement in years.

“I’ve been ‘momming’ it with toddlers these last few years,” she said, laughing. “So just getting out and speaking again, it was meaningful. It gave me new life.”

The decision to have a speaker at Coffee Connections was not a part of the original blueprint. In fact, Dr. Smith was the first. According to Jamie Makuch, the SDA leader behind the event, she won’t be the last. “We’re always looking for ways to deepen the impact of our events,” Makuch said. ‘Bringing in expert voices is one way to do that.”

From its inception, Makuch made it a priority to host Coffee Connections at SDA client businesses. “It’s important that our events support our entrepreneurs in more ways than one,” she said. “By choosing their venues, we’re helping them generate revenue and introducing new people to their offerings.” Makuch said this strategy gives each event a unique flavor and creates business exposure in a meaningful and immediate way.

Dr. Smith added: “When Jamie first brought it to me, she said, ‘We’ve never had a speaker before.’ I said, ‘Great. I’ll be the first.’”

Their connection, like so many SDA stories, started somewhere unexpected: a Facebook writing group. Dr. Smith had posted a flyer for a group she was launching under her business, Protect Her Destiny (PhD for short, a nod to her doctorate). Makuch didn’t join the group to write. She joined to connect.

“Jamie saw the flyer and said, ‘I need to talk to her.’ And from there, she just started talking. I had barely even said hi before she was telling me about SDA.”

“I could tell she had something powerful to offer our clients. Within minutes of talking, I knew she needed to speak,” said Makuch of Dr. Smith.

That single moment turned into a relationship that is now opening doors for business owners across the Southland. Because while Dr. Smith may be an expert on grants, her real gift is helping people understand what they actually need, and it’s not always money. It could be a partner, or a system, or a sponsorship. Not always a grant.

This kind of thinking invites businesses to think more broadly about how they position themselves for long-term success. And perhaps most practically, it means understanding deadlines and even time zones.

“If it’s due July 30th at 11:59, and your funder is on the East Coast, you can’t hit submit at 11:00 Central and expect it to go through,” added Dr. Smith, with a tidbit showing just how detailed and thorough her insights were. It was the kind of information you could only get from someone who has been in the trenches themself.

This Coffee Connections also marked the first time two banks, Huntington and US Bank. sponsored the event together. The banks loved the idea of working together to help business owners, marking another sign of how Coffee Connections has grown since it all started in December 2023.

The next Coffee Connections is set for October 29 from 9:00 to 11:30 AM.