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.
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
- Galaxy Grants: Hidden Star’s mission is to help minority and women entrepreneurs succeed. Enter for a chance to win a $2,750 Galaxy Grant. Galaxy grants only takes 30 seconds to enter. Deadline to enter is March 31, 2024 and the winner(s) will be announced the following week. More information, here.
- Grocery Initiative Equipment Upgrade Grant: This initiative provide grants for energy-efficient equipment upgrades for existing independently owned for-profit grocery stores, cooperative grocery stores, or not-for-profit grocery stores. Grantees will be selected through a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) process, with priority given to those located in food insecure communities across the state. Applications for this initial round are due March 25 at 5 p.m. More information, here.
- 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
- 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.
- Cécred x BeyGOOD Fund: This fund celebrates the influence professional hairstylists have on hair health and the critical importance of advocating for the salon community. Salon business grants across five cities chosen for their large, diverse community of hair stylists in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New Jersey. Grants are $10,000. Applications are open until 3/20/24. 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.
