Resources
How to Start a New Business
Helpful Links
City of Chicago
- Chicago Small Business Center
- Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection
- Department of Buildings
- Department of Finance
- 40th Ward
- 48th Ward
- 49th Ward
- 50th Ward
Cook County
State of Illinois
- Illinois Secretary of State
- Illinois Department of Revenue
- Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Federal Government
Small Business Assistance
Cook County Small Business Source: The Cook County Small Business Source strives to support, grow and elevate small businesses, the backbone of Cook County’s economy. This program directly connects small business owners with expert guidance and support to take businesses to the next level. Cook County established the award-winning program to ensure that businesses emerge from COVID-19 intact and positioned for growth. More information here.
LISC Small Business Services: LISC has teamed up with Verizon to help you and your business get personalized mentorship from a business expert. Whether you’re a new business or growing your existing business, sign up for Verizon Small Business Digital Ready to access educational resources, coaching, community networking, and a marketplace of specially curated tools, products and services for your business. Register here.
Initiative for a Competitive Inner City: Rogers Park Business Alliance is excited to collaborate with Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) to offer their tuition-free leadership training program Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC). A free, 40-hour “mini-MBA on steroids,” the ICCC program provides business owners access to capital, one-on-one coaching, and short and long-term growth strategies. ICCC participants will develop their growth strategy, and build connections with industry experts and fellow entrepreneurs, and access to their network of over 7,000 alumni! If you are interested in learning more, please contact us at helpdesk@rpba.org.
Financial Resources
Explore grants, loans, and alternative funding sources for your business.
- Federal
- State
- City
- Corporations/Nonprofits
- Allies for Community Business Small Business Loans: Apply for term loans and lines of credit from $500 to $100,000 for businesses located in Illinois and Indiana. More information, here.
- CIBC Entrepreneur Loan Program: The program supports startup or early-stage small businesses that have completed a CIBC-approved entrepreneur training program (GROW/PROGRESANDO is an approved program) with important working capital. More information, here.
- Good Food Loan Fund: This is a low-interest term loan or line of credit between $500 and $100,000 available to eligible food and beverage entrepreneurs in Chicago. Made possible through Mayor Brandon Johnson and the City of Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection. Entrepreneurs pay 3% in interest and 2% in closing fees over a term between one and three years depending on the loan size. More information, here.
- Federal
- State
- City
- Community Development Grants: These grants are part of the Chicago Recovery Plan and are administered by the Department of Planning and Development. These grants are meant to support small businesses, nonprofits and property owners for local commercial, mixed-use, and light manufacturing development. City staff will prioritize projects in areas of Chicago where there is a history of disinvestment or limited private investment. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. More information, here.
- Corporations/Nonprofits
- $10,000 Small Business Grants: Give your business amazing opportunities for free. Join Verizon Small Business Digital Ready to access free courses, events and more. Plus, right now you can apply for $10,000 grants. You do not have to be a Verizon customer to participate. to apply you must 1. Join Digital Ready for free and complete 2 courses or events. 2. Apply between now and 6/28/24. Register for the Digital Ready program here.
- Chicago Emergency Relief Program: The Southern Smoke Foundation created this grant that provides emergency funding to those employed by or own restaurants or bars that are facing unforeseen expenses that cannot or will not be covered by insurance. More information, here.
- DishRoulette Kitchen 2 Kitchen Grant: $1,000 grant for minority-owned restaurants in the Chicagoland area. Applications can be made in English or Spanish. Open to undocumented business owners. Rounds close at the end of each month at 11:59 p.m. If you are not selected for the grant, then your application is automatically rolled over for the next month of grant funding. More information, here.
- I Fund Women Grants (multiple): IFundWomen is the go-to funding marketplace for women-owned businesses and the people who want to support them with access to capital, coaching, and connections. They have a wide variety of grants available to their members, from their monthly “pay-it-forward” grants to those from their generous partners like Adidas, Unilever, Visa, Barbara Corcoran & Systane, GingerBread Capital and more. More information, here.
- Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Scholarship & Grant Application: One-time grants of $500 are available for employees of restaurants. More information, here.
Commercial Property Finder
We maintain a list of available commercial properties to help businesses search for space in Rogers Park. Start your search below.
How To Open A Business in Rogers Park
Check out our helpful guide for more information about Rogers Park & starting your own business. Additionally, check out our gathered data to get the best picture of what locations are ideal for you to start or expand your business.
