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Kinzie Corridor News
 312-421-3941  October 2011
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New Grant for Foreign Trade Show Travel
The State of Illinois was awarded federal funds to help underwrite the cost of small businesses travelling to and participating in foreign trade shows, with the goal of increasing small business exports. T he state will pay for half of the airfaire and hotel costs for two company representatives, plus up to $1,500 to help cover booth costs and other expenses. The program and application details will be released soon, but ICNC wants to help companies get ready now. Call Steve at 312-421-3941 to find out more about the program and discuss your foreign sales plans for the upcoming year.
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WARNING! WARNING!
City Crackdown
Sources within City Hall have tipped off ICNC that CDOT will begin immediately issuing citations for public way violations, specifically A-frame/sandwich board signs on the sidewalk and flag signs in the public way. This is a $500 fine! There is no permit for these signs as they are considered unsafe for pedestrians and present untenable liability for the City. So please beware of this new enforcement and pass the word to your fellow businesses!
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Sign Up for Goldman Sachs No-Cost Business Program
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses at the City Colleges of Chicago is a practical business management education program that helps small business owners develop the skills they need to grow their companies. Participants will receive one-on-one business advising from dedicated professionals to help them develop a tailored plan for growth. Applications for the upcoming class at City Colleges of Chicago are due October 26, 2011 at 5:00pm for classes starting in January. For more information and to fill out an application, click here.
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Small Business Spotlight: Partscription.com
Having a hard time finding that one small part to repair your appliance or electronic device? If so, let us recommend you check out PartScription. PartScription gives you access to over 8 Million parts and accessories! an online, telephone, and in-store service, helping both business and homeowners maintain the value and performance of their appliances and equipment with replacement parts and accessories.
Partscription is locally owned and offers same day shipping on thousands of items, with competitive parts and accessories pricing and shipping rates. We welcome the opportunity to serve you online, over the telephone or through one of our valued Hardware Store Partners to help you maintain your valuable home items. To learn more check out PartScription.com .
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Clean Energy Business Competition
The Clean Energy Trust's Clean Energy Challenge will award more than $200,000 in cash prizes to the best early-stage companies and student-generated Midwest business ideas with the potential to bring new clean energy technology to the marketplace. Topics may include:
·Renewable energy ·Carbon abatement
·Energy information systems ·Advanced batteries
·Green buildings ·Next generation transportation
·Energy efficiency ·Alternative fuels
·Smart grid ·Water conservation and contaminant mitigation
See www.cleanenergytrust.org/ for more info.
In addition to prize money, winners will also receive mentoring from the broad group of experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts. Interested applicants can register for updates on FaceBook or Twitter. |
New Member Spotlight: Chicago Legal Cafe
Looking for legal assistance? How about coffee, or perhaps lunch? Now you can find it all at Chicago's own Legal Cafe. Stop by and find an experienced team of professionals ready to assist you with a wide range of legal issues, or just have lunch in the cozy loft like atmosphere.
For more information, stop by their convenient location at:
1338 W. Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60607,
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ComEd-Reduce Energy/Save Money
Small Business Energy Savings provides both guidance and assistance to small business owners looking to make their business more energy efficient. This service includes:
- A free energy-use assessment of most small business
- Free installation of energy saving products
- A list of recommendations for additional changes and upgrades that can further improve the energy efficiency of a small business and that qualify for rebates of up to 50 percent through programs offered by ComEd, Nicor Gas, North Shore Gas and Peoples Gas.
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New Shared Kitchen Ordinance Passed
On September 6, 2011 a new ordinance went into effect requiring businesses that provide commercial kitchen spaces, and the food entrepreneurs who utilize these shared kitchens, to obtain newly created business licenses for their specific business activities. Read more.
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Money Available Now-Reimburse Employee Training Expenses
ICNC can reimburse up to 50% of the money you spend on employee training. Check with us now to find out if your company and training expenses qualify for the State of Illinois' Employer Training and Investment Program (ETIP). If you qualify, we can reimburse you for training done any time between July 1, 2010 and December 31, 2011. Call ICNC for assistance with this and other programs. We'll help make sure more of your tax dollars come back to the neighborhood. |
Free Legal Services for Entrepreneurs 
The Law Project of the Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, coordinates free legal assistance from many of Chicago's top law firms to support nonprofits and low income entrepreneurs. It's Small Business Program provides legal advice on business issues such as, corporate structuring, lease provisions, trademark regulations, employment and contracting. For more information about The Law Project and how you can access its services, visit www.thelawproject.org , email us at tlp@thelawproject.org or call 312.939.3638.
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Webinar: How to Create a Marketing Plan
The " How to Create a Marketing Plan" is the fourth of a series of webinars on Starting a Business in Illinois presented by ICNC's SBDC Director Denise Ching. The webinar includes tutorials on the following topics:
·Definition of Marketing & Marketing Plan ·Market Overview
·Marketing Principles & Common Terms ·Competitive Analysis
·Target Marketing & Segmentation ·Marketing Strategy
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Former ICNC Board Member Helps Girls in the Game
Girls in the Game, is happy to announce that Barbara Rose, a lifelong volunteer and feminist activist, will be their new Board Development Chair. Barbara recently retired after 22 years as co-owner and general manager S. N. Peck Builder, Inc., a long time ICNC member. Barbara's strong commitment to supporting social change is reflected in her long history of volunteer work, which has taken her all over the world working with women and girls. ICNC also appreciates the many years of service Barbara gave to her local business community prior to her retirement. For more info on Girls in the Game go to Barbara Rose
http://www.girlsinthegame.org/
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Half-Off Breakfast at Tulum's
Hungry? If so, we recommend you head over to 1800 W. Grand and check out TULUM. Owner Ricardo Romo (pictured here with daughter Adriana) offers a great blend of Mexican and American cuisine at very reasonable prices! This month, ICNC members can enjoy a 50% discount on breakfast entree's too (see coupon at the bottom of the page)!
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Constant Contact :
Social Media & Email Marketing Workshops
Two back-to-back seminars will be presented at ICNC. Discover how communicating with your customers regularly can help you stay connected, and generate increased referrals, repeat sales and unwavering customer loyalty. Presented by Steve Robinson from Constant Contact. Continental breakfast provided by Constant Contact. Register here.
Social Media Marketing Made Simple
This is not Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn 101. Instead, this session will cover some of the strategies and best practices to get the most out of your social media activities including time management and measuring the return of your activities.
7 Keys to Email Marketing
Are you interested in learning how email marketing can help your business grow? Join us for this informative presentation to learn how you can create highly effective and professional emails that get results.Email marketing is an effective, affordable and easy to use way to enhance your small businesses image and communicate with your customers and prospects
Wednesday, October 26th, 2011
Social Media 8:00am-10:00am
Email Marketing 10:00am-12:00pm
People can choose to come to one or both of the sessions.
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Friday, October 28, 2011
4:00pm
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Halal Certification for Food Manufacturers & Distributors
 Tap into the $634 billion global market for halal-certified food now! Halal is a set of dietary guidelines for Muslims, and if your food product isn't halal certified, many Muslims won't consider buying it. At this seminar, experts from the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America will teach you about halal food purchasers and you'll find out what your plant would have to do to become certified. Large firms like Nestlé, Cargill, and Kraft see the market potential and already have lines of halal-certified products. But small food companies can sell into the halal market, too. It's simple, cost-effective, and it gives your product a competitive selling edge. Doors open at 8:30 for coffee and networking. Register here for this FREE event.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
9:00am-10:30am
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Save the Date: ICNC Holiday Party at Garfield Conservatory
Save the date! ICNC's holiday party is one of our companies' favorite events. Meet your neighbors and fellow business owners over drinks and appetizers in the Garfield Park Conservatory. The lush surroundings of the conservatory are always impressive, but when decorated with lights for the holidays they are magical. This is a free event, but please RSVP now!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
5:00pm-7:30pm
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Save $ & Energy at Smart Energy International 2011
500 senior industry professionals will gather at the 2011 Smart Energy International, a unique forumdeveloped specifically for electric utilities and the organizations that support them. This event offers networking opportunities with 500+ utilities, government, regulators, financiers, technology providers and more.
You'll meet and learn from an amazing group of industry leaders you won't see anywhere else discussing the future of smart energy, from policy and finance to the impact of EVs and building automation on the grid; storage and distributed generation to innovations and smart grid optimization. ICNC Members- Save 40% when you use discount code ICNC! Co-located with the Smart Cars and Homes Summits. For more info and registration go to www.smartenergyinternational.com.
October 24-26, 2011
Hyatt Fisherman's Wharf - San Francisco, CA
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Attend City of Chicago's Free Business Workshops
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Small Business Expo Please save the date; Friday, October 7th and enjoy a day of networking with over 3,000 small business owners and a full day of FREE expert workshops. For more information contact: Lilia Chacon.
Pre-register by October 4 and speed through the entry process.
UIC Forum
Friday, October 7, 2011
8:30am-3:30pm
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Subsidized Training Programs for Manufacturers
Learn more about job specific skill enhancement from the Executive Director of JARC, an industrial council on the north side providing manufacturing specific-training. Learn about JARC's training programs as well as funding sources to offset some of the training expense. Free for members. $20 for non-members For more information, click here.
Jane Addams Resource Corp(JARC)-4222 N Ravenswood Ave Wednesday, October 12, 2011 8:00am-10:00am |
Call for Clothing Donations
Come support local artists, with and without disabilities, who are showcasing their fashion related
artwork. We will be taking donations of new or gently used clothing to sell at closet sale. Profits will be used to help Arts of Life buy art-making supplies.
Please drop off your donations at the Chicago Studio during business hours by October 7.
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Fulton Street Collective Fall Open House
In honor of Artist Month, Fulton Street Collective (FSC) will be opening its doors, its gallery, and its studios to the public. It's been a huge year for FSC and we want to celebrate with our Chicago community. Tour the creative space where artists, fashion designers, musicians, and film-makers perfect their craft. Check out work by our newest members and long-time standard bearers. As always there will be music, libations, refreshments, and a chance to meet and network with our artists.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
5:00pm-1:00am
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Financing your Exports
 Financing your Exports Presented by: Peter Moirano from Citibank. Learn about expanding export opportunities, managing foreign payments, managing risks, and more. For more info, call Chad at 773-594-9292.
Alliance for Illinois Manufacturing-8430 W. Bryn Mar Ave, Suite 1000 Tuesday, October 25, 2011 8:00am-10:00am |
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Tune Up Your Business' Finances
 Presidents Advisory Committee (PAC), in partnership with US Bank, and Frost, Ruttenberg, & Rothblatt, invites you to a special event designed especially for Presidents, CEOs and Business Owners.
Topics will include: Tuning Up Your Business's Finances For 2012
- The Latest Trends in Taxes, Banking, and Real Estate
- Preparing to negotiate with a bank in 2012
- Rent? Buy? Renegotiate? Move?-Making the best of the current trends in real estate
- The top five things you need to know about tax planning in 2012
This is a free event, but seating is limited. RSVP to cuylerbrown@comcast.net or 312-479-7172.
Colliers International-6250 N River Road in Rosemont, First Floor
Wednesday, November 2, 2012
8:00am-11:00am
Continental breakfast will be served
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Affordable Space
Check 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 and descriptions.
Current spaces available include a 3,070 sf unit with a
great usable floor plan. 28' high ceilings, tons of light and. Built out office and areas. Plumbing for bathroom and kitchen. Access to freight elevators and common bathrooms. Monthly rent is $1,535. Call ICNC for an appointment to see this or other spaces.
Other space available:
- 3,320 sf. Great usable floor plan. South facing windows. Built out offices with lots of lofty, open space. Common area restrooms, plumbing, wood floors throughout, immediate access to freight elevators. Monthly rent is $1,798
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For more info call 312-421-3941 or email info@industrialcouncil.com
320 N. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL. 60612
www.industrialcouncil.com
 
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Save
50% |
Tulum Grill Breakfast Special!
50% off Breakfast items.
When you present this coupon or mention ICNC.
Valid for the months of October & November only, drinks not included,carry-out, dine-in and delivery, 9-11am, Mon-Fri.
Tulum Grill*1800 W. Grand Ave, Chicago*312-997-2400
| | Offer Expires: 11/30/2011 |
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Meet you