Hello Uptown Business Center Clients and Partners,

This newsletter is packed with summer business opportunities, current grant applications, and upcoming events. Don't miss our in person social media workshop later this month to gear up for summer marketing! More information and the registration link are in our events list below.

As always, please don't hesitate to schedule an Uptown Business Center consultation so we can discuss personalized support for your small business.

Best, 

Kylie Ruscheinski

Uptown Business Center Director

DON'T MISS OUT ON THESE SUMMER

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

Summer Festival Sanitation Certificate Classes Are Open

All businesses that wish to operate a food stand/temporary food establishment at a special event or summer festival must obtain a special event food license.

As part of the license, each establishment must have a Person In Charge onsite with an original and valid Summer Festival Food Vendor Sanitation Certificate (SFFVSC).

Classes are now open to secure your SFFVSC! Here is the city's list of approved training providers, including languages available at each site.

If you'd like to learn more about being a vendor at outdoor events this summer, view a recording of our Farmers Market + Street Festival Vendor event here.



Register Your Business for DNC 2024 Opportunities

The Democratic National Convention is coming to Chicago August 19-22, 2024 and there will be numerous opportunities to increase sales and foot traffic for your business!

Please complete the Vendor Interest Form if you are interested in being listed in the 2024 DNC Vendor Directory. The Directory will be shared with the tens of thousands of visitors coming to Chicago in August. If you are an Event Venue/Restaurant Operator interested in hosting 2024 DNC and affiliated events, please also complete the Venue Portal Form when prompted at the end of the application process.

Your information will be posted publicly once the Vendor team has reviewed your submission. Click here for more information. 

UPTOWN BUSINESS CENTER EVENTS

Social Media Marketing 101

Monday, March 25th | 4-5PM |Uptown Business Center

4619 N Broadway

Get a hands-on training covering critical social media strategies for your small business. Expand your digital marketing with this free workshop! Bring your devices for a user-friendly training on how to plan, create, and schedule social media posting to expand your business visibility and bring in more customers.



Register for this Free Event

Money Smart: Financial Management

Tuesday, April 16th | 3-4PM |Wintrust Uptown 4800 N Sheridan

Learn the concept of financial management for your small business and learn the rules and tools commonly available with this free training with Wintrust Bank. As part of this Money Smart workshop, you'll learn more about financing for your small business and how to manage your working capital and fixed assets.

Wintrust will also be hosting a product fair ahead of this event at the same location, 4800 N Sheridan. Stop by to learn about small business banking with Wintrust starting at noon ahead of Money Smart!



Register for this Free Event

CURRENT GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

Check out our last newsletter if you missed updates on the Wish Local Empowerment Program.

Amber Grants for Women

 Next Application Window Closes March 31, 2024

WomensNet gives away at least $30,000 each month in Amber Grants. With a variety of grant categories, including Start Up Grants and Business Category Grants, WomensNet supports female-owned businesses. Apply here. 

Eligibility:

• Applicant identifies as a woman as is over 18 years old
• Business is at least 50% woman-owned
• Operating in the United States or Canada

Amber Grants are awarded every month with the application cut-off being the last day of the month and the award date being the 23rd of every month. Apply now.

2024 FedEx Small Business Grants Program

 Applications Open Until April 1, 2024

FedEx is awarding $20,000-$50,000 grants to small businesses who have used FedEx services to grow their businesses. All awardees will also be given access to a suite of Premium FedEx services. Apply here.  

Eligibility:

• Based in the United States
• Business has fewer than 99 employees
• Has been in business for over six months
• Has used a FedEx business account before September 1, 2023

Applications will include written responses and photos of your business and how you have used FedEx services. Applications must be submitted by 12:00pm (noon) EST on April 1, 2024.  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.

Lawrence/Broadway SBIF Opens April 1

Applications Open Until April 30, 2024

SBIF provides grant funding for permanent building improvements and repairs across the city. SBIF applications are submitted during monthly rollout periods for individual TIF districts and participants can receive grants to cover between 30-90% of the cost of remodeling work with a maximum of $150,000 for commercial properties.

Eligibility:

Learn more about eligible expenses and business eligibility here.

• Business properties located in a TIF district where SBIF funds are available and SBIF is open for applications (Check to see if your business is in a TIF district here.)
• Commercial businesses with gross annual sales up to $9 million on average over the previous three years
• Commercial property owners with net worth up to $9 million and liquid assets up to $500,000
• Industrial businesses with up to 200 full-time employees
• Commercial projects (residential projects aren't eligible)

Learn More! Register for an informational webinar at 1pm on Wednesday, April 3rd.

The Lawrence/Broadway SBIF application is open until 5pm on Tuesday, April 30th. Download the application.

The TL Effect

 2024 Application Opening Soon

The TL Effect is a mentorship program focused on women-of-color entrepreneurs with consumer-focused early-stage start-ups. This is a six month program that will level up your business. Learn more here! 

Eligibility:

• Owner must be a woman of color
• Female-owned business (>51% female employees) 
• Early-stage consumer-focused start-up with an existing product or service

Applications to join the 2024 cohort are opening soon, fill out this form to be alerted when that application opens!

GOOD FOOD FUND LOANS & COACHING WITH A4CB

The Good Food Fund Loan is a low-interest term loan or line of credit between $500 and $100,000 available to eligible food and beverage entrepreneurs in Chicago. Made possible through Mayor Brandon Johnson and the City of Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection’s Good Food Fund, entrepreneurs will pay 3% in interest and 2% in closing fees over a term between one and three years depending on the loan size. 

To be eligible for the loan, the business must be in the food and beverage industry and must operate in Chicago. 

Want to connect with Allies for Community Business before applying? Click here to schedule a session with a Community Lender or contact us at 312-929-1952 or loan@a4cb.org.

Apply Now.

PRIVATE KITCHEN PITCH CONSTEST AT THE HATCHERY WITH MIDWEST DAIRY 2024

Applications Close March 29, 2024 at 5PM

The Hatchery Chicago is excited to announce the 3rd Annual Midwest Dairy Kitchen Pitch Contest! We have the privilege of supporting emerging brands with access to kitchen space and wrap around services to accelerate growth. The winning brand will receive access to a private kitchen at The Hatchery for 1-year! Apply Now.

Midwest Dairy, a non-profit supporting farmers to highlight dairy products is looking for innovative brands highlighting dairy in their products. If you use 30% or more cow's milk dairy in your ingredient base (made from a cow and can include milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, etc.), we invite you to apply! 

Applications opened March 4, 2024, and close on March 29, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. CST. 

Finalists must be available to present in-person during a pitch session hosted on Thursday, May 30, 2024. Additionally, the contest winner must display a logo from the Midwest Dairy Association on their website during the duration of their free months of rent in a private kitchen at The Hatchery. Please see the official rules here: https://thehatcherychicago.org/midwest-dairy-pitch-rules/.

Midwest Dairy® represents 4,400 dairy farm families and works on their behalf to build dairy demand by inspiring consumer confidence in our products and production practices. We are committed to Bringing Dairy to Life! by giving Consumers an Excellent Dairy Experience and are funded by farmers across a 10-state region, including Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and eastern Oklahoma. For more information, visit MidwestDairy.com.

OTHER SMALL BUSINESS EVENTS

Remote Chicago Small Business Expo

Thursday, March 14th | 9:00AM-12:30PM | Virtual Via Zoom

The remote expo serves as a comprehensive resource for Chicago’s small business community, ultimately increasing chances of success and achieving business goals. It offers current and future business owner's crucial insights on topics related to operating a business, including how to obtain a business license, developing marketing tactics, managing finances, and engaging with customers. The keynote address will feature Luke Saunders, CEO and Founder of Farmer’s Fridge, headquartered in Chicago. To learn more and register for the free remote Chicago Small Business Expo, visit Chicago.gov/BizExpo.

UBC CLIENT SPOTLIGHT:

FALCON'S HANDCRAFTED SANDWICHES

Falcon's Handcrafted Sandwiches has you covered for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Located at 1968 W Lawrence, they're serving up a delicious variety of sandwiches, pastas, wings, and sides. Their spacious BYOB space is perfect to swing by after school, sports leagues, or work and they also provide pick up and delivery options.

Be sure to follow them on Instagram to keep up with their specials and seasonal options and visit falconshandcraftedsandwiches.com to see their full menu. Order online, call 773-654-1366, or swing by the restaurant for your next meal!