July 2020
Make City Mentions + Hatchery Headlines
Supporting Others Through Community + Collaboration
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.
Garfield Park Love Fest
Farmer's Fridge
Last month, Justice of the Pies organized the Garfield Park Love Fest. The Hatchery Plaza became a hub for meals and supplies to be safely donated to community members in East Garfield Park. Thanks to the donors and all involved, more than 500 meals and other essential supplies were given away!
Since March, Farmer's Fridge has donated almost 40,000 meals in Chicago. They recently donated 8,000 meals to the Big Shoulders Fund School Network to feed kids in need. The company's goal is to continue to support frontline workers and local communities across the City of Chicago whenever possible. Take a look at their recent spotlight on WGN .
The Illinois Small Business Development Center at ICNC
Entrepreneurship Education Virtual Workshops + Intern Spotlight
Join the Illinois SBDC ITC at ICNC for upcoming webinars! Learn more about the Illinois SBDC at ICNC  here and the IL SBDC International Trade Center here .
USMCA: Sound Export and Sales Strategies into Mexico
Thursday, July 30th at 1:00 PM
Mexico’s USD 1.1 trillion economy makes it the second largest economy in Latin America and the 15th largest economy in the world. Mexico has a large, diversified economy that is linked to its deep trade and investment relations with the United States. On July 1, 2020, the USMCA entered into force, replacing NAFTA. The Illinois SBDC's International Trade Center at ICNC is pleased to have John Hyatt and Jorge Cañedo present a live no-cost webinar. 
Illinois SBDC at ICNC Intern Spotlight
"Hi, I'm Murphy Weiland, currently a third year at the University of Dayton studying accounting and management information systems. This summer I have the privilege to be interning at the Illinois SBDC at ICNC. Something that drew me to ICNC was the opportunity to further understand the purpose of an incubator and how they served their clients. Throughout my internship I have had the chance to review the current website, propose new designs of our page, and do some housekeeping of proofing links and sub-pages. I have also been reviewing and attending various seminars for educational benefit for myself and clients. My most recent task has been helping with the business continuity support project. I have been using the program‘s guidelines to find SBDC clients who are eligible to participate in the program. I am having so much fun learning new things outside of my major studies and grateful for the opportunity at the SBDC!"
Export Opportunities to Australia and New Zealand in the New Economy
Wednesday, August 5th at 3:30 PM
The Illinois DCEO's Office of Trade and Investment is offering a webinar on how to do business in Australia and New Zealand. Australia and New Zealand’s economies have been impacted by COVID-19 and the pandemic has served as a major wakeup call for government and industry leaders. When 2020 began, Australia was entering its 29th year of uninterrupted economic growth, it will not make it to 30 years. The combined economies have delivered a ~US$220 billion economic stimulus package, the largest ever issued. This presentation will provide an analysis of Australia and New Zealand, identify those industries that are offering strong export opportunities for Illinois exporters, and how to best access those opportunities in the current environment.
Support West Side Businesses at The Garfield Park Neighborhood Market
The Garfield Park Neighborhood Market will be open next on August 8th 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.