SBIF GRAM
January 2012
About SBIF
 
The Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) is a City of Chicago TIF-based grant program designed to assist with building renovation. We fund interior and exterior permanent renovation projects with grants of up to $150,000 with up to 75% of rehab costs rebated. These are grants, not loans, and do not have to be repaid. Please refer anyone you know who may be interested in our program.

  

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Contact Us

 

Derek Walvoord
 
SBIF Director  

derek 2011

312-360-3319 

dwalvoord@somercor.com

 

 

 Silvia Sanchez
 
SBIF Assistant Director

   

 

312-360-3334 

ssanchez@somercor.com

 


Joe Lewis 

SBIF Assistant Director

 

312-360-3329

 jlewis@somercor.com

 


Erin Evenhouse

SBIF Associate

 

312-360-3328 

eevenhouse@somercor.com


In This Issue
SBIF Success Stories: DAT Donut Shop- A South Side Treat; Pasteur of Chicago- A Revived Edgewater Restaurant
SBIF Contractor List Updated
Energy Performance Program Available for Nonprofits
 Greetings!

 

Happy New Year! The SBIF Program finished strong in 2011 with over $9 million in grants to small businesses Citywide! Visit the SBIF section of the Somercor website for information about past grant recipients, updated information about funding availability, a newly expanded list of other programs available to small businesses, and more. If you have any suggestions for SBIF Gram stories or additional small business resources, email eevenhouse@somercor.org

Featured SBIF Grants: 

DAT Old Fashioned Donuts- 87th/Cottage Grove SBIF

 
DAT Donuts is using a SBIF grant for a complete rehab of their donut shop. They are dramatically improving the corner of 83rd and Cottage Grove.

 

Exterior before and after

DAT exterior before 

 

 

Interior before and after

 

DAT interior before  DAT interior after

 

The rehab is still in progress, but DAT remains open for business. If you're in the neighborhood, we recommend it- especially the glazed!

  

Pasteur of Chicago- Bryn Mawr/Broadway SBIF
 
Kim Nguyen is using a SBIF grant to reonvate her French-Vietnamese restaurant in Edgewater.

 

 

Interior before and after 
Pasteur interior before  pasteur interior after

 

Exterior before and after 

pasteur exterior before  pasteur exterior after

After a three year hiatus, Pasteur's reopening has generated a buzz in the local food scene. Look for a feature on it printed in this month's Chicago Magazine.

SBIF Contractor List Updated 

  

We're pleased to announce the SBIF program has a new and updated list of contractors familiar with SBIF. Visit the contractor page to check it out. Because of our agency relationship with the City of Chicago, SomerCor 504, Inc does not endorse any particular contractors. We provide this non-exhaustive list as a courtesy to our clients as a starting point. For the SBIF program, applicants must get at least two bids, but can use whoever they want provided the contractor has a City of Chicago business license and proof of liability insurance. If you are a general contractor who would like to be added to the list, email your name, address, city, zip code, phone number, a copy of your business license and 2 letters of recommendation from past clients to eevenhouse@somercor.com.

Energy Performance Program Available for Nonprofits

 

 IFF, a nonprofit lender and real estate consultant, has developed a program that enables nonprofits to significantly lower energy bills with energy efficiency upgrades to their facilities, saving them money on utilities every month for years to come. IFF's Energy Performance Program (E2P) identifies ways to save the most money, manages the upgrades, and finances the entire project. To learn more, visit their website.

Thanks for reading our E-Newsletter.  Please tell your friends, coworkers, acquaintances, or anyone that might be interested in our grant program.  We rely on you to let others know about the program.  And, as always, please feel free to contact any of us. 

 

Sincerely,


Derek Walvoord, Silvia Sanchez, Joe Lewis, and Erin Evenhouse, the SBIF Team