Real skills, taught straight, for free. Master AI as a creator, learn to win government contracts, and break into tech — no gatekeepers, no $2,000 gurus, no four-year detour. Just the knowledge, and a community behind you.
In partnership with the Rock Solid Development & Training Foundation — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit · EIN 86-3679037
Everything here is free, honest, and made for real people in real communities — not a funnel to sell you something later. Whether you want to make money with AI, win contracts as a business owner, or land a tech career without the debt, start with whichever track speaks to you. They connect, so you can travel between them. Take it one module at a time.
Idea to legally open — entity types, registering with the state, your EIN, and the reseller / wholesale / peddler's licenses and how they tie to your EIN. Illinois as the example. Open →
The owner-operator playbook — USDOT & authority, plates & IFTA, the scales & overweight fines, the DOT physical, logbooks, and 1099 taxes & deductions. Open →
What you actually owe and when — profit vs. gross, self-employment tax, quarterly payments, deductions & mileage, the new 2026 1099 rules, and what to hand your tax preparer. Open →
Free money you don't pay back — the registrations to do first (SAM.gov, UEI, GATA), where to look, how to read a NOFO, and how to fill out the application so you actually win. Open →
The honest path to tax-exempt status — name, purpose & board, Illinois incorporation, the IRS language that trips people up, the 1023 vs 1023-EZ application, and the state registrations to fundraise legally. Open →
Keep your 501(c)(3) alive and fundable — the yearly Form 990, donor receipts that hold up, in-kind gift rules, the insider-money line you can't cross, restricted funds, and the property-tax exemption. Open →
Get your company borrowing on its own name, not yours — the D-U-N-S number, the PAYDEX/Intelliscore/SBSS scores, the net-30 tradeline build sequence, the personal-guarantee truth, and the scams to skip. Open →
Your GED, your CNA, food & safety licenses, and CPR — what's free, what's cheap, and exactly who to contact in the Chicago south suburbs. See what's available →
Expungement vs. sealing, who qualifies, the new 2026 Clean Slate law, and exactly how to file in Illinois — plus where to get free legal help so you don't get denied on a technicality. Clear your record →
What actually moves your score, how to pull your reports free and dispute errors, the two biggest levers, rebuilding from nothing — and how to spot the credit-repair scams. Raise your score →
The full path to a commercial license in Illinois — the permit, the federally-required training, the road test, the endorsements that pay more, and how to get the training paid for instead of going into debt. Start driving →
Stop paying $200–$400 for a simple return — the free in-person help (VITA, AARP), the free software, what to bring, and the EITC and Child Tax Credit you've earned. File for free →
Illinois lets you sell homemade food with no sales cap — what you can & can't make, the CFPM certificate, registering with your county, and labeling it right. Turn your kitchen into income. Start selling →
A landlord can't lock you out or shut off your utilities. How eviction really works, your defenses, security deposits, the extra protection Cook County gives the south suburbs, and free legal help. Know your rights →
Keep the family home in the family. Writing a will, the one deed (TODI) that passes your house without probate, naming beneficiaries, and the free forms to do it. Ujamaa in practice. Protect your legacy →
Illinois has real money — some you never repay — to cover your down payment. The IHDA programs, who qualifies, the 640 credit gate, and how to stack local help. Renter to owner. Get the keys →
Government sets aside billions for minority-, women-, veteran-, and disability-owned businesses — but only if you're certified. What the letters mean, who qualifies, and how to certify in Illinois. Compete for contracts →
Payday loans, title loans, rent-to-own, check cashers, "instant refunds" — how each one works on you, the 36% cap Illinois law gives you, the red flags, and real options when money's tight. Don't get trapped →
Use today's AI tools to make content, find your niche, and actually get paid for it — from your first prompt to knowing your worth.
The honest, complete playbook — from setting up your business with nothing to winning bids, getting paid, and forecasting million-dollar contracts a year out.
The other door: take in-demand tech skills and land a job, especially where tech meets government. Skills over degrees, debt optional.