Equip Yourself with Business Resources, Right Here in Berwyn

Letter from Economic Development Manager

Hello and welcome to the Economic Development Corner.

Please join us in congratulating the Graduating Class of the Berwyn Shops 2022 Season! These dedicated women set the bar for our next cohort, and we are excited to see what their future entrepreneurial journey holds.

Featured below are just some of the funding and business advising resources currently available to meet your business needs. Don’t forget to register for this week’s educational webinar on Business Finance Basics!

Kendra Shaw

HOW TO MAKE YOURSELF BANKABLE

Business financing involves acquiring the money you need to start, operate, or grow your business. Join us for a conversation on the basics of business financing and best practices to get qualified for a loan. Learn about all the steps needed to help you take your business to the next level

This webinar will cover:

Do's and don'ts for small business financing.
Steps for getting ready to apply for a business loan.
Financial Statements

For more information, contact Paola at paolag@berwyn.net or (708) 749-6582

Virtual event: Wednesday, Feb 8 from 3 – 4:30 pm

View the Full Report

GROW YOUR WORKFORCE

The IEDC's Economic Development Research Partners (EDRP) released a report on Strategies to Raise Local Labor Force Participation.

Barriers to work and solutions addressed include:

Facilitating childcare
Encouraging worker- and family-friendly business practices
Providing transportation
Assisting justice-involved citizens
Engaging youth
Addressing the benefits cliff
Assisting veterans
Creating opportunity in distressed neighborhoods

NEW FUNDING SOURCES AVAILABLE!

Application Details

Qualified applicants must be a manufacturer in suburban Cook County, outside the city of Chicago boundary and less than 500 employees.

To receive reimbursement, manufacturer must complete and implement project. Upon verification of project completion by IMEC, Cook County will reimburse the business for eligible expenses.

This program will prioritize manufacturers located in historically excluded communities to ensure an equitable distribution of resources. Project awardees will be further prioritized based on business viability, potential economic impact, and total project investment.

Apply Now!

To stay up to date with available funding sources, visit

www.berwyn.net/grant-preparation

Schedule Session

TAILORED BUSINESS ADVISING

As a Community Navigator with the Cook County Small Business Source , the BDC strives to support small businesses with tailored educational opportunities. Specifically, we host informational webinars, group advising sessions, and one-on-one calls. These resources are provided at NO COST and can cover a range of topics, including marketing, property inquiries, and grant applications.

We understand that running a business is hard, so don’t hesitate to reach out to ensure that you receive the help you need in 2023!

SOURCE GROW GRANT UPDATE

Applicants can expect to hear back on grant status by the end of February 2023. Read the announcement from Cook County Small Business Source HERE

THE BERWYN SHOPS

To our 2022 Berwyn Shops vendors: THANK YOU! It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know you, your products, and your small businesses. We are incredibly PROUD of you and all the hard work you have put into the first season of the Berwyn Shops. You have demonstrated excellence, patience, creativity, and passion. CONGRATS on graduating from this homegrown project! We cannot wait to see what you do next!

View Graduation Gallery

CHAMBER NEWS

Learn More about the Morton 201 Foundation

Berwyn Development Corporation

Berwyn.net

(708) 788-8100