August 2021
ICNC's Advocacy Priorities
Kinzie Corridor TIF Renewal
The Kinzie Industrial Corridor Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District, established in 1998, is set to expire at the close of 2022. Over the last 23 years, TIF has been leveraged to improve corridor infrastructure such as roads, alleys, and sidewalks, fund a transit station at Damen & Lake, and reimburse small businesses for building improvements and employee trainings. ICNC advocates for the renewal of the Kinzie Industrial Corridor in order to continue these improvements and programs for the modern, urban industrial businesses that operate within its boundaries. For questions on TIF or more information on how you can support ICNC's advocacy for TIF renewal, email hannah@industrialcouncil.com.
Property Tax Assessments: Appeal Reminder
The Cook County Assessor has issued property tax assessment increase notices for West Township, which includes the Kinzie Industrial Corridor. Most property owners have received assessments noting large increases from previous years. ICNC encourages Kinzie Corridor property owners to talk with their tax advisors about appealing their assessments with either the Assessor’s Office or the Board of Review. 
Appeals can be submitted up to 28 days after the notices are mailed. If you have not received your assessment, it can be found here.
Make City Mentions + Hatchery Headlines
The entrepreneurial atmosphere in the halls of Make City and The Hatchery is always apparent. Here are some of the innovative ways small businesses working out of Make City and The Hatchery are growing and supporting their employees and their communities.
Netflix Show
Justice of the Pies
News Feature
Prevail Jerky
Maya-Camille Broussard of Justice of the Pies, a company housed in The Hatchery, is part of Netflix's Bake Squad premiering August 11th! The competition show includes Broussard and 3 other contestants who are competing to have their dessert chosen for someone's special occasion. Learn more.
Make City company Prevail Jerky was recently featured in multiple news outlets! Prevail Jerky was named a Protein All-Star in Good Housekeeping's Healthy Snack Awards and The Food Network's Best Allergen-Free snacks.
Delivery Expansion
Farmer's Fridge
Target Accelerator Program
Lil Bucks
Farmer's Fridge, a company who's headquartered in Make City, has expanded their delivery to more states! The 24 states where Farmer's Fridge's fresh, ready-to-eat meals can be delivered now includes the Gulf States, Minnesota, and Tennessee. Learn more.
Lil Bucks, a buckwheat company who operates out of The Hatchery, is one of 11 companies who were chosen to participate in Target's Takeoff Food & Beverage cohort. Target Takeoff is a five-week accelerator program that helps consumer brands scale into mass retail. Learn more.
Entrepreneurship Education: Illinois SBDC at ICNC
The Illinois Small Business Development Center at ICNC has a calendar filled with upcoming no-cost entrepreneurial education webinars! Learn more about the Illinois SBDC at ICNC here. Follow the Illinois SBDC at ICNC on LinkedIn!

View the calendar of all upcoming events here!
How to Manage Online Sales to International Customers – Shipping, Receiving Money, etc.
Thursday, August 12th at 1 PM

You have or want to develop international customers – but how to do collect their payments, ship the product, what happens at customs and who pays taxes?
Small Business Lending Products
Friday, August 13th at 9 AM

This webinar, led by Karl Riley of Fifth Third Bank, will share about small business lending opportunities, how to take advantage of them, and where to begin.
Key Components of a Site-Specific Health & Safety Plan 
Friday, August 20th at 1 PM

Are you concerned about the health & safety for your workforce? Are there inconsistencies in the policies and programs that your employees are following? If so, developing a site-specific Health & Safety Plan may be the best solution for your company. 
Buying From Overseas & Importing Products – How To Be Successful 
Friday, September 3rd at 1 PM

So many people (maybe you) are importing and reselling products online. How can you find and buy products confidently for resale? How do you pay for the goods, what happens when they are imported into the US, what about quality?
Business Continuity Planning – Have you planned for what can go wrong?
Thursday, September 9th at 1 PM

Have you planned for interruptions in your business that could severely impact your ability to do business? If not, this webinar will help you get started and determine your largest risk areas. 
ICNC's HR Corner
Are you ready to hire staff but lack the time? Our workforce development department can assist you!

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!
Minimum Wage Ordinance Update
As part of Mayor Lightfoot's Chi Biz Strong Package, which passed City Council in late June, the timeline to bring domestic workers to a $15 minimum wage has been further accelerated. All domestic workers, including those that work for small employers (under 20 employees), will receive a minimum wage of $15 an hour beginning on August 1, 2021. Learn more.
Upcoming Virtual Food Workshops with The Hatchery
The Hatchery, a collaboration between ICNC and Allies for Community Business to bring education, capital, and support to the Chicagoland food entrepreneur community, has upcoming food workshops.

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.