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
Uptown Social Media Mastery: Boost Your Local Business Presence
Monday, February 3rd | 1:00-2:30PM
Chicago Public Library, Uptown Branch, 929 W Buena Ave
Join us for a hands-on workshop designed specifically for local business owners looking to stand out on social media. We’ll cover essential strategies like content planning, platform selection, and effective community engagement to increase brand awareness and drive foot traffic. Whether you’re in the restaurant, retail, or service industry, this session will give you the tools to thrive in Chicago’s vibrant Uptown community. The Instagram app downloaded on your phone is required for this workshop.
SBIF 101
Wednesday, February 5th | 1:00-2:00PM
Guesthouse Hotel, 4872 N Clark
Secure funding for permanent building improvements and repairs for your small business! Learn about SBIF for the following TIF districts: Wilson Yard (Feb '25), Devon/Sheridan (Feb '25), Lincoln Avenue (May '25), and Clark/Montrose (June '25).
This event is hosted by the Uptown Business Center and Wintrust Bank with a presentation by SomerCor, the SBIF Grant Administrator.
Money Smart with Wintrust Bank: Managing Cash Flow
Wednesday, February 5th | 2:00-3:00PM
Guesthouse Hotel, 4872 N Clark
Join the Uptown Business Center and Wintrust Bank Uptown at The Guesthouse Hotel for a free training as part of the Money Smart Program on Cash Flow. This training will cover the basics of cash flow management and how to asses your business's cash flow cycle in order to make proper projections and improve the financial health of your small business. This training is applicable to all business types and will help improve your business's chances of securing funding going forward.
Current Grant Opportunities
Chicago Community Development Grants - Medium
Applications Open Until 11:59PM February 14, 2025
Receive grants between $300,001 to $5 million to support eligible commercial, cultural, institutional, social service and mixed-use projects. Grants are intended to support up to 50% of total project cots involving new construction, rehabilitation or both. Apply here.
Eligibility:
- Proposed projects must primarily comprise one of the following uses independently or combined with another eligible use:
- Commercial (office, retail)
- Cultural (museums, theaters, performance venues)
- Industrial and manufacturing
- Institutional (healthcare, education)
- Mixed-use residential (10+ units with 100% ground floor commercial use)
- Social services (workforce development, unhoused interventions, etc.)
- All uses must be generally accessible to the public and should add to the economic vitality of the surrounding neighborhood, benefit the community, and meet a local need.
- Construction of these projects must not be completed when the application is submitted; they must be received as proposals.
Note that this is a reimbursement grant. Eligible grant uses include hard costs (construction), soft costs ( pre-development) such as design and site preparation expenses, and acquisition costs. Private and non-profit developers, tenants and property owners are eligible to apply individually or jointly during competitive, semi-annual funding rounds. Apply now.
The Awesome Foundation
Applications Are Reviewed and Rewarded on a Rolling Basis
The Awesome Foundation awards $1,000 grants each month to individuals and groups for various projects - everyone is eligible to apply! With 84 independently run chapters, members contribute to a micro-funding pool supporting these grants. 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