August 2020
Make City Mentions + Hatchery Headlines
Supporting Others, New Product Launch, + New Move-Ins
The entrepreneurial atmosphere in the halls of Make City and The Hatchery is always apparent. Some of the small businesses working out of Make City and The Hatchery, whose businesses are struggling due to the current environment, have thought of innovative ways to support their business, their employees, and their communities.
New Product Launch
Modern Sprout's Uplift Planter
Crockett Cookies Opening First Storefront
Modern Sprout has launched a new product, the Uplift Planter. The Uplift Planter is an elevated plant stand and app-enabled grow light designed to integrate living greenery into any space. Learn more from Modern Sprout's Kickstarter page.
Crockett Cookies has opened their first storefront in Dr. Murphy's Food Hall! The lunchroom style cookies are currently sold in more than 350 Chicago-area stores. Read more in the Chicago Tribune.
New Make City Move-In
Kobi Kids
New Make City Move-In
Budzy Box
Kobi is a new brand of premium, natural, hypoallergenic personal care products specifically designed for kids and teens and their sensitive skin. Kobi launched in July 2020 with a natural deoderant as their first product with plans to create more products. Learn more about Kobi.
Budzy Box is a subscription box service that includes specially curated boxes that include a variety of CBD and Hemp skincare, beauty, and lifestyle products. The box is delivered to customer's doors once a month. Learn more about Budzy Box.
New Make City Move-In
Thunderdomes LLC
By the Hand Club + The Hatchery Team Up for a Local Grocery Co-op
Thunder Domes LLC creates dome structures that can be seen outside various local restaurants and breweries. Thunder Domes also creates hammock camping stands and shadow lamps along with their popular domes. Learn more about Thunder Domes LLC.
A West Side liquor store is being transformed into a pop-up food market after Austin teens from By The Hand Club were given the chance to come up with solutions to their neighborhood’s challenges. The Hatchery is helping by developing a curriculum for the pop-up so that the young members can learn entrepreneurship and business skills like licensing and customer service. Read more about the project in Block Club Chicago.
The Illinois Small Business Development Center at ICNC
Illinois DCEO Webinars + SBDC Intern Spotlight
The Illinois Small Business Development Center at ICNC recommends joining the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for upcoming webinars! Learn more about the Illinois SBDC at ICNC here and the IL SBDC International Trade Center here.
Export Opportunities to South East Asia in the New Economy
September 1st at 9:00 AM
This presentation will provide an economic overview of the South East Asian region, what are some of the key factors that are impacting economic growth in the region, including the US-China trade war, and export opportunities for Illinois companies looking to access the diverse markets of the ASEAN region.
How to Make Your Food or Beverage Product Sizzle in the Canadian Market
September 15th at 10:00 AM
Hungry to find out how to get your product into the mouths of Canadians? Join this information session where we provide you with the right mix of retail, e-commerce and food service, as well as trends and marketing to make your Canadian experience sizzle! The impact of the USMCA trade agreement will also be highlighted.
Illinois SBDC at ICNC Intern Spotlight
Sakib Adil joined the Illinois SBDC at ICNC as our Summer intern, from the University of Chicago (UIC) where he’s completing his B.S. in Finance. During his time with the SBDC, Sakib has contributed by providing our Make City businesses with financial solutions during this difficult time for all small businesses. Additionally, he’s learning how businesses engage with the SBDC for multiple needs, including coaching, business plan development and understanding how to present their financials before requesting a small business loan. Sakib is also assisting the SBDC and ITC department with being more engaged with our clients through survey development and identifying programming that will meet the needs of SBDC clients at Make City and in the ICNC member community.
Support West Side Businesses at The Garfield Park Neighborhood Market
The Garfield Park Neighborhood Market will be open next on September 12th for sales of fresh, local produce, value-added products such as jams and pickles, and pre-packaged, grab-and-go options from other West Side businesses. 

The Garfield Park Community Council has established social distancing and safety practices to keep everyone healthy while they shop.
Upcoming Virtual Food Workshops with The Hatchery Chicago
The Hatchery, a collaboration between ICNC and Accion Chicago to bring education, capital, and support to the Chicagoland food entrepreneur community, has upcoming food workshops.

ICNC's HR Corner
Are you ready to hire staff but lack the time to screen resumes? Our workforce development department can assist you! Learn more.

  • As of July 1st, two important labor laws took effect In Chicago. The Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Ordinance raises the minimum wage, and the Chicago Fair Workweek Ordinance requires some large employers to provide their workers with predictable schedules and pay their workers for last minute changes. And, as a reminder, Chicago also has an Anti-Retaliation Ordinance, which prohibits retaliation against workers for following certain COVID-19 related health orders.
  • The Workforce Development Team at ICNC works every day to provide quality and streamlined services that connect a skilled and qualified workforce with employment, as well as a variety of labor market services to meet the needs of local businesses.​To discuss your HR needs, please contact Nancy or Priscilla in our Workforce Development Department!
COVID-19 Resources + Funding Opportunities
Our mission to support Chicago's small businesses and the West Side community that we are a part of is and always will be our top priority. We've created a COVID-19 Resources webpage that is updated daily and includes funding opportunities, employment support, food access, small business resources, online training opportunities, how manufacturing businesses can support first responders, and more.
Accion, our partner in The Hatchery, has created an emergency capital webpage with the most up-to-date information on small business grant and loan opportunities.
Grow Your Business @ Make City + The Hatchery
Make City - 320 N. Damen Ave.
The Hatchery - 135 N. Kedzie Ave.
ICNC's Make City incubator offers a thriving entrepreneurial community and immediate access to ICNC's advising, export, and advocacy services alongside 100 other small, modern urban manufacturing businesses. ICNC supports small businesses and the West Side community through incubation, advocacy, and advising.
The Hatchery is a non-profit food and beverage incubator dedicated to helping local entrepreneurs build and grow successful businesses through cutting-edge kitchen facilities, entrepreneurship curriculum, partnerships with generous corporate sponsors and foundations to create local job opportunities and accelerate local economic growth.
The Illinois Small Business Development Center International Trade Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, and the Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago (ICNC). Reasonable accomodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Please contact the center at (312)433-2373.