Connect with the Uptown Business Center’s Free Business Services for Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses!
The Uptown Business Center (UBC) is managed by Uptown United, and supports new and existing business owners and entrepreneurs within the East-West boundaries of Lake Shore Drive to the Chicago River, and North-South boundaries of Lincoln Park to Rogers Park. Whether you’re in the idea stage of your business or a long-standing business owner, the UBC provides a suite of free business services!
Sign up for a free UBC Business Consultation today for a wide range of free services including:
- Licensing Assistance: choosing and applying for the best license for your business, meeting zoning requirements, securing a liquor license, and more.
- Permitting Assistance: applying for and renewing sidewalk cafes, sign permits etc.
- Funding Resources: locating traditional and non-traditional financial resources including webinars, connections to local institutions, and the latest local and federal grant/loan information.
- Sector-Specific Support: industry events, trainings, webinars, networking opportunities.
- Digital Marketing Assistance: digital storytelling, social media planning, content creation, google business profile development, and more.
- Connecting with your local Chamber of Commerce for additional support in marketing, neighborhood events, networking, and more.
Consultations are provided virtually, by phone, or in person based on your preference. Learn more about how the UBC can support you by signing up for a free UBC Business Consultation, emailing ubc@exploreuptown.org, or calling 773-878-1064.
Upcoming Business Resource Events
Tax Credits & Financial Opportunities for Small Businesses
Wednesday, September 25th | 12:00-1:00PM
Uptown Business Center, 4619 N Broadway
Learn about tax credits and other financial opportunities/incentives for small businesses at a roundtable presented by the Small Business Advocacy Council. This event will feature programs such as the tax credit for hiring formerly incarcerated individuals and ways to access capital.
Current Grant Opportunities
Route 66 Extraordinary Women Micro-Grant Program
Applications Open Until August 26, 2024
This micro-grant program supports women-owned and operated (51%+) businesses with $2,000 grants. Apply Here.
Eligibility:
- Physical location with fewer than 20 employees
- Business supports or is involved in traveling to other business
- Registered business license
This grant program is part of the Route 66 centennial celebration. Learn more and apply at https://roadahead.route66centennial.org/index.php/marquee-programs/extraordinary-women-grant-program.
Good Food Fund
Applications Open Until September 13, 2024
The Good Food Fund provides food and beverage businesses with grants for labor, construction or capital improvements, supplies, transportation and distribution, or working capital. This is the second and final round of Good Food Fund grants. Apply Now.
Eligibility:
- Currently operating food or non-alcoholic beverage business focused on agriculture, manufacturing, processing, wholesale, distribution, service, retail, or research and development. (See the application questions for a list of eligible industry codes.)
- Located in Chicago.
- Holds a current City of Chicago food or beverage business license. (Application may be submitted without this, but the license must be issued no later than September 24, 2024. Contact help@a4cb.org for assistance.)
- Has established a business bank account.
- Filed a federal tax return in 2023 showing at least $10,000 of gross revenue.* Grant awards will be calculated based on 2023 gross revenue:
- $10,000 for businesses with $10,000 – $100,000 gross revenue or fiscal sponsor applying on behalf of a new business
- $30,000 for businesses with $100,001 – $250,000 gross revenue
- $100,000 for businesses with $250,001or more gross revenue (limited to a maximum of five grants)
*A fiscal sponsor may apply on behalf of a business in the incubation stage.
To view answers to frequently asked questions, click here or watch the webinar recording here. Funding will be prioritized for businesses located in areas of Chicago with low food access, locally owned and operated, and who serve local customers. Apply Here.
Fast Break for Small Businesses
Applications Open Until September 13, 2024
Accion Opportunity Fund, Legal Zoom, and other partners are awarding $10,000 grants and LegalZoom services to small businesses. Apply here.
Eligibility:
- Based in the United States
- In business for at least 3 months
- Annual revenue of less than $1 million with active business bank account
- If in business for 12 months or more, must provide most recent year's business tax return or alternative business information
Applicants must create a Submittable account to apply for this opportunity. Awardees will be notified on a rolling basis until September 30. Apply now.
Chicago Community Development Grants - Small
Applications Open Until November 8, 2024
Receive up to $250,000 for construction or renovation costs for your business. Grants support local commercial and light manufacturing projects. Apply here.
Eligibility:
- Proposed projects must be revenue-generating
- Projects must comprise the following uses
- Commercial (office, retail)
- Light industrial
- Mixed-use residential (residential costs cannot exceed 25% of the total grant amount and must be part of a larger building improvement, such as HVAC/plumbing)
- Priority is given to projects with strong local impacts that leverage local talents, capacities and institutions and contribute to community vitality.
Note that this is a reimbursement grant. Eligible costs include pre-development, new construction and renovations. Applications are open to business owners, property owners, community developers, and entrepreneurs. Apply now.
LISC Black Restaurant Fund
Rolling Application Window
Local Initiatives Support Collaboration (LISC) and UberEats are partnering to provide Black-owned restaurants and restaurants serving the Black community with growth capital. Growth capital is a long-term investment tool that is only paid back once the business reaches success. Learn more and submit an inquiry here.
Eligibility:
- Black-owned restaurants or restaurants serving the Black community
- Must earn an annual revenue between $250,000 and $3,000,000
- In operation for at least two years
- Active UberEats partner
- Located in an economically disadvantaged community
Growth capital is granted on a rolling basis. Complete the intake form here.
Wish Local Empowerment Program
Rolling Application Window
Black-owned businesses can apply for $500-$2,000 grants to support their existing brick-and-mortar businesses. Apply Now.
Eligibility:
- Black-owned business
- 18+ years of age
- 20 or fewer employees
- Brick-and-mortar shop within the United States
- Store earns an average annual revenue under $1M
This is a rolling application. Learn more an apply at wish.com/local/empowerment. Apply Here.
UBC Resources
These presentations and resource packets cover small business resources and information presented at UBC events. Sign up for a free UBC Business Consultation today to learn about other resources for your businesses and to receive personalized support!
Uptown Business Center Partners
In total, there are 8 community Chicago Business Centers located throughout the city. Services are free. Visit chicago.gov/cbc or click here for more information. The UBC provides assistance with licensing, permitting, and additional specialized business services in collaboration with the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP), local Chambers, and community partners.
Within the map of Lake Shore Drive to the Chicago River, and North-South boundaries of Lincoln Park to Rogers Park, the Uptown Business Center works collaboratively with the following partners:
Testimonials
Working with Uptown Business Center has been such a great pleasure! Kylie Ruscheinski has been such an amazing help all around. She has guided us with great grants, to ways how to manage our social media pages, and best ways to promote our restaurants. Kylie is very hands on and works with you through all your questions or problems you may have. We have been very fortunate to be introduced to Uptown Business Centers.
- Oscar Hernandez, Falcon's Handcrafted Sandwiches
I had the pleasure of meeting with Kylie Ruscheinski at Uptown Business Center to navigate some of the challenges I was facing during the licensing phase of starting my business. Meeting with Kylie was a small investment of time with a massive impact—she helped me prepare my documents in advance of my in-person meetings with BACP, which helped me get through the licensing process in record time! Her advice and insights were invaluable and helped me open my doors quickly—because of Kylie’s familiarity with the nuances of the City’s licensing requirements, I was able to start offering services that benefit the families in my community sooner and minimize the number of months I was paying rent on an empty space!
- Risa McMahon, Southport Fundamentals
Approaching my 4th decade of life, I have consistently worked as an employee at other businesses. With that experience and a dream to achieve a lot more on my own terms, I chose to create an LLC for my eye care business. It was one of the best business decisions to join the Uptown Chamber of Commerce because I learned about the Uptown Business Center and met the director Kylie Ruscheinski. I can tell that everyone working at the Business Center and the Chamber of Commerce is really invested in the success of the organizations and businesses who ask for help. Every time I talk with the director, Kylie, I learn so much that helps me achieve more success in my business as a doctor who is new to entrepreneurship. It is extremely helpful to have the workshops and services available to business owners that exist at the business center and I hope to see this continued support toward local business owners.
- Dr. Karina N Fulton, Willow Vision Health