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Near West Side reps honor Mayor Daley
A crowd gathered at Union Park on April 7th to recognize the efforts of our outgoing Mayor whose efforts over the past 22 years are well known to those working and living on the Near West Side. After recognizing the success of the Women's Treatment Center, the Mayor spoke of the history of the community and how far it has come in the past two decades. Community leaders, including Alderman Burnett, Ernest Gates and a host of others thanked the Mayor for his hard work on behalf of the community. One great achievement noted by ICNC is the strength of the business community which has grown from hundreds of companies in the Kinzie Corridor to thousands. Despite the cold April weather there was a warm feeling in the air as the Mayor was thanked for his service and wished well on his next post-mayor adventures.
 
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Artist Community at FCC opens its doors
Fulton Street Collective, long term tenant of ICNC's Fulton-Carroll Center incubator is dedicated to the development of artists and the artistic community. The Collective offers studio space for member artists to work, a gallery/event space to show their work, events that provide opportunities to interact with the community, and ongoing art education programs. Click here for more information on new art classes, events and ways to get involved. Two upcoming shows in April include the 1000 Paper Cranes Project Fundraising Event for Japanese Tsunami Victims on Apr 14th, and Art Therapy & Autism, on April 19th.
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Two area companies inducted into UIC Hall of Fame
The Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame at UIC recently inducted its Class of 2011. Congratulations to two of our local companies Portion Pac and Kim & Scott's Gourmet Pretzels who were recognized for their demonstration of entrepreneurial spirit and business talent.
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 Member Spotlight: The Sokol GroupLooking for a new home, office or industrial space? The Sokol Group can help! Longtime ICNC member Andy Sokol has put together a team of licensed realtors who specialize in everything from commercial to residential and foreclosures too. Check out The Sokol Group.com or contact Andy directly at 312-421-2525. |
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 Nominate your company for Governor's Export Award
The State of Illinois wants to recognize local companies that are selling their products or services outside the U.S. There's a special category for small companies, which allows the State to recognize new exporters as well as those who've been selling abroad for years. If your export sales are growing, have helped you add or retain jobs, or if you're doing something innovative to find foreign markets, let us know and we can hrlp you get some headlines for it! Call Steve DeBretto, Director of ICNC's Illinois SBDC International Trade Center.
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SBA Offers No-Cost CEO Mentoring program 
SBA is offering a no-cost executive-level training initiative for leaders of companies with high growth potential. Participants will attend 40 hours of classes spread out over 13 sessions and an additional 14 hours in CEO Mentoring Groups, to take place from April-Nov 2011. For more information about the e200 Emerging Leaders Initiative, click here |
No cost Energy Audits Available to Companies
 Thanks to a $2.5 million federal grant, The Delta Institute is offering energy audits and energy efficiency strategy implementation assistance at no cost to commercial buildings and industrial facilities to eligible companies. Eligible businesses may also apply for affordable loans to implement identified energy efficiency projects. Click here for complete details and the application. |
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FREE Training in Food Safety/Sanitation
Food companies in the Kinzie TIF (and 7 nearby TIF's) can now receive NO-COST training for their staff's, thanks to a program put together by the Creative Hospitality Associates (CHA) and trainer, OAI Inc. The entire program is funded by TIF dollars thru TIFWorks. This is a wonderful opportunity for businesses to offer their employees a personalized learning experience while helping to cover the cost of training-related licenses.
The training being offered includes:
* Food Safety/Sanitation Training for food serving establishments - This two full day course leads to certification (expires 5 years from issue date)
*BASSET/Alcohol Safety Training(approved by the Illinois Liquor Control Commission) for businesses holding a liquor license. This 2-4 hour course can be done on-site or at CHA.
For more information contact Lauren LaViola at [email protected] or (312) 850-9797.
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50+ Companies at ICNC's Lead Breakfast
ICNC's recent "Lead Breakfast" event proved a big success as over 50 emerging company owners shared information on their products and services. Thanks to our sponsor, MB Financial. Some of the local companies featured in this event included new coffee company Passion House, and exotic morroccon cosmetic firm Labella Figura and new online caterer Fooda.com . Contact Andrew at ICNC ( [email protected]) to be included in the next Lead Breakfast event in mid summer. |
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New "How to export" videos online
Learn from successful businesses and other experts how you can find foreign markets and make exporting a profitable part of your business. The Small Business Administration, in partnership with AT&T and Inc. Magazine, has posted a series of instructional videos online covering topics from export planning to marketing, payment, and logistics. For help getting started -- or increasing your exports -- contact Steve at the Illinois SBDC International Trade Center at ICNC.
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Cut employee costs with ICNC
ICNC's business employment services can make your hiring easier. If you need to hire a new employee, ICNC can help you from start to finish by:
- advertising where job seekers look
- screen resumes
- conduct background and reference checks
- interviewing promising candidates
And it's all at no cost. You just meet the candidates that are pre-screened and qualified so you can choose from the best. Save time and money with ICNC's hiring service. Call or email Priscilla at [email protected] to get started. |
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 Free computer classes at ICNCThanks to a grant from the state, the following classes are available at no charge! But space is very limited, so sign up today!
All Classes are from 1pm-4pm
Wednesday, April 13: Access 1
Friday, April 15: Access 2
Wednesday, April 20: QuickBooks
Friday, April 22: PowerPoint
Wednesday, April 27: Excel 1
Friday, April 29: Excel 2
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Learn what SBA can do for Small Business
SBA leaders invite companies to participate in this full day event. THis is an opportunity to provide input on new regulations as well as learn what SBA offers including: how to take advantage of new tools coming out of the Small Business Jobs Act, how to get an SBA loan, compete for federal contracts, find training and resources and more. Click here for more info. At the Citigroup Center Building Friday, April 15, 2011
9:00am-4:15pm
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Seminar on How to Start a Food Business
"From Recipe to Reality" provides entrepreneurs a one day crash course on the basics of starting a food business. Attendees will become more familiar with the challenges of starting a food business and what is required to get started. For more information click here. April 15 |
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Show your neighborhood pride this Earth Day!
You are invited to join Goose Island in a neighborhood Trash clean up to honor Earth Day. Games and Prizes will be provided. See [email protected].
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
3:00pm-5:00pm |
Financing Strategies for your Business
Are you looking for financing resources for your small business to expand or start your business? In this session you will also learn about many other sources of capital your business can pursue e.g. the correct way to borrow from friends and family, what angel investors look for, how to prepare a loan proposal, and how lenders evaluate a business loan. Also, find out how you can apply for a small business loan for up to $50,000 at the workshop. Click here to register or for more info.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
4pm-6pm
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Supply chain growth conference
Learn how your company can become a supplier to three industrial sectors with growing vendor bases: Windpower and green technology, aerospace and high-speed rail, and medical devices and equipment. Original equipment manufacturers will brief attendees on the sector and be available to meet with interested companies. At the UIC Student Center. For more information contact the Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center or JARC.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
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Support local Crane High School
If you would like to support our neighborhood schools please join the Campaign for Crane Team who will be holding an evening reception at KARYN'S ON GREEN,
Monday, May 16, 2011
6pm-8pm |
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Get ready for Wicker's Park Renegade Craft Fair Always free-to-attend, Chicago's biggest and best indie-craft event will feature over 300 of today's brightest makers of handmade goods, live entertainment, hands-on crafting workshops and so much more! Food, beverages and libations will also be available! Click here for more info.
September 10-11, 2011 |
 Space available at the Fulton Carroll CenterCheck ICNC's website for low-cost incubator space with free business assistance and resources, located at the Fulton Carroll Center.The site displays info on available spaces including prices descriptions and photos.
Current spaces available include a 2,351 square-foot unit  with 12' ceilings on the second floor. Monthly rent is $1,439 and includes heat. The unit has lots of sunlight from windows that look out on Damen Avenue, and there are wood floors throughout. Call ICNC for an appointment to see this or other spaces.
Other local space available
- 12,500 sf factory building at Sacramento and Carroll. 16-foot ceilings, 1,200 office with central A/C, 1,300 sf explosion proof with central A/C. Sprinkled. Contact Sandy Richman at 773-722-4583.
- 9,000 - 108,000 at 1000 W Fulton from $4-6/sf. 360,000 total available. Call Eric Johnstone at 312-676-1874 for information.
- 27,000 sf industrial space at 1747 W Carroll with offices, parking: $1,595,000. Call Michael Senner at Colliers for info: 847-698-8234.
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For more info call 312-421-3941
or email [email protected]
320 N. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL. 60612
www.industrialcouncil.com
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ICNC seminars are supported in part by the City of Chicago's Department of Community Development and by the State of Illinois' Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
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