Happy Valentine's Day

 

 

    
     Mount Greenwood Community and       Business Association 

                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                   February 2014            

 In This Issue
Business Breakfast

IRS Small Business Tax Center

Chicago City Threasurer's Online Marketing Contest

City of Chicago's Two New Websites for Business Owners

Business Owner/Manager Crime Abatement & Resourse Workshop

Chicago Blackhawks Hockey Clinic at Mt. Greenwood Park

Navigating the City's Website

 

 

 

 

 Quick Links

 

www.cityofchicago.org 

 

www.mgcba.org 

 

www.19thwardmobile.com 

 

 

 

 
        
Greetings!


Our newsletter contains information regarding the business community, available programs, opportunities, and neighborhood events.  Please forward to business contacts, friends, and neighbors who may be interested.  Also, be sure to let us know if there is a particular topic about which you would like more information. Please like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mount-Greenwood-Community-and-Business-Association/117286328467422?ref=hl

Sincerely,

 

Mary Gill
Executive Director
3333 W. 111th St., Suite B
Chicago, IL 60655
773-881-0622
mgcba.org

 

Business Breakfast

 

 "Mom & Pop vs. Big Box: Loading Up Your    Slingshot When Goliath Comes To Town"

 

 

Please join us for "Mom & Pop vs. Big Box: Loading Up Your Slingshot When Goliath Comes To Town" presented by Marketing Consultant Caro­line Dwan, who will present ideas on how to compete when a bigger, cheaper, national or regional chain comes to town and threat­ens your very existence. Dwan will speak at the Business Breakfast on Thursday, February 13, from 8:30 to 10 a.m., in the BAPA Community Room, 11109 S. Longwood Dr. An accomplished market­ing and sales professional with broad experience in marketing, print and digital adver­tising and non-profit fundraising, Dwan's specialty is finding creative solutions for businesses of all sizes. Dwan and her husband, Dan Coogan, own Fat Tommy's. This Business Breakfast is sponsored by the following organizations: Bever­ly Area Planning Association, Morgan Park/Beverly Hills Business Associa­tion, 95th Street Business Association , and the Mount Greenwood Commu­nity and Business Association.

Registration is $10, free for BAPA and association members. Coffee and donuts will be served. Space is limited and registration is required for all at­tendees.

To register, contact Marcia Walsh at BAPA, (773) 233-3100, or e-mail [email protected] 

IRS Small Business Tax Center
 
You don't need to be a tax expert to run a business, but knowing the basics about taxes can help you run it better.  You'll find the basics and much more at the IRS.gov Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center.The Center includes these resources:
  • IRS Video Portal.  Watch helpful videos and webinars on many topics.  Find out about filing and paying business taxes or about how the IRS audit process works.  Under the 'Businesses' tab, look for the 'Small Biz Workshop.'  Watch it when you want to learn the basics about small business taxes.
  • Online Tools and Educational Products.  The list of Small Business products include the Tax Calendar for Small Businesses and Self-Employed.  Install the IRS Calendar Connector tool and access important tax dates and tips right from your smart phone or computer, even when you're offline.
  • Small Business Events.  Find out about free IRS small business workshops and other events planned in Illinois.

Go to  http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Small-Business-and-Self-Employed-Tax-Center-1 and use the A-Z index to find whatever you need.

 

Chicago City Treasurer's Online Marketing Contest   

 

  

Constant Contact is partnering with the Chicago City Treasurer's Office to host the 4th annual Online Marketing Contest for Chicago's small businesses.

 

Join them for this FREE Special Event and learn key information to market your business the right way!

 

Tuesday, January 21, 2014 from 8:30am to 12:00pm CDT

 

8:30am - 9:00am - Registration and Networking  

9:00am - 10:00am - Tom Casale - Grow Your Business with Email & Social Media 
10:10am - 11:10am - Rachel Portell - Social Media Best Practices                     

11:15pm - 12:00pm - Jeff Hays - The Cloud & Office 365 for the Small Business

 

For more information click here http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e8oum3dnf50f9624&llr=gxjqt6bab

                       

 

 

City of Chicago Launches Two New Websites for Small Business Owners
                           
The City of Chicago's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection has created a "Small Business Center Website" for business owners.  The site provides steps for starting a business in Chicago.  The site also provides information to current business owners on business licensing, public way use permits, zoning, tax information, loading zones, building permits, inspections, etc.  It also provides opportunities for you as a business owner.To view the new website please visit http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/bacp/sbc/small_business_centerhome.html

The City of Chicago has also launched a site selection tool that will help the business owners search available commercial and industrial real estate in Chicago.  The Site Selector tool is a free service for small business owners looking for commercial and industrial space in Chicago. The tool also helps brokers and property owners promote available properties in the city. Neighborhood Business Development Centers (NBDC) will work with local property owners to identify properties in their communities that are for lease though not listed with a broker and will post availability on Site Selector. Posting and searching for listings are both free. To view the site selector website,  please visit http://www.worldbusinesschicago.com/site-selector .

If you have an available space in Mount Greenwood and would like me to list it on the site selector, please contact Mary Gill at 773-881-0622 or [email protected].

Business Owner/Manager Crime Abatement & Resource Workshop

 

 

Please join us for a Crime Abatement & Resource Workshop. This workshop is intended to assist the managers and owners of businesses to increase their personal level of safety and learn how to work with the police and other partners to improve the level of safety surrounding your businesses.  Representatives from the Department of Buildings, CAPS, and the Cook county State's Attorney's Office will speak to you on, how businesses can work with police and other partners to improve the level of safety surrounding your business, best safety practices of business, and how to avoid common code violations. 

When:  Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Time:  8:00 a.m.
Where:  District 022 Community Room
              1900 West Monterrey
              Chicago, IL 60643
Cost:  Free
To Register:  Call Police P.O. Elizabeth Ryan at (312) 745-0620 or via e-mail at [email protected]

This event is sponsored by:  Matt O'Shea, Chicago Police Department, Cook County State's Attorney, Mount Greenwood Community and Business Association, 95th Street Business Association and the  Morgan Park Beverly Hills Business Association.
Chicago Blackhawks Hockey Clinic at Mt. Greenwood park

The Chicago Blackhawks are giving kids the opportunity to participate in a FREE 1-hour ice hockey clinic!  Skates and equipment will be provided at not cost.  No prior ice skating experience is required.


Saturday, February 22 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Mt. Greenwood Park
3721 W. 111th St. Chicago, IL 60655
(312) 747-6564 

Fee: Free

Age Range: At least 6 but less than 10

 

 

Navigating the City's Website 


Navigating the city's website is easy.  Let's say you want to pay your water bill (credit card only).
2) From the left column CLICK I want to payfor/buy
3) Scroll down the list and CLICK water bill
4) CLICK Get Started Online
5) On the right side of the screen CLICK Easy Pay
6) Just enter your account number from your bill and the amount.  You'll get a confirmation number.
Note:  Pay parking tickets by simply CLICKING Parking Ticket instead of Water Bill in step 3.

For a schedule of the City of Chicago's Business Education Workshops, click here

http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/bacp/sbc/business_educationworkshopcalendar.html 

Our Website
                           
Please visit our website! We are going to constantly be updating our new website with information.  Please check it out.  We will be featuring 3 business a month on our homepage.  Please contact me if you would like to be on for March.  Also, we just uploaded all of the Holiday Stroll pictures.  They turned out beautiful.  Check them out!
 
            
I want to help! If you have any questions or would like to be in our newsletter, please call me at 773-881-0622 or email me at [email protected].

Sincerely,

 

Mary Gill

Mount Greenwood Community and Business Association