Small businesses are the backbone of Belmont Cragin. And we want to help entrepreneurs- especially women and people of color- start and grow their businesses.
SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT
Need help creating a business plan, reaching more customers, or navigating city permits? You don't have to do it alone. Our free, individualized, business advising and workshops can help you start, build, or grow your business for free.
As a Neighborhood Business Development Center (NBDC) delegate agency, we can help you apply for City programs like the Small Business Improvement Fund, and connect you with the City of Chicago Small Business Center (SBC).
BUSINESS ADVISING
Business Planning
A strong business plan is the roadmap for all areas of your business: management, marketing, finances, and operations. And a well thought-out plan helps you make purpose-driven decisions, secure funding, and grow. We can help you create or revisit yours.
Financial Planning
We can help you create a budget, cashflow analysis, and get financial statements. This helps you understand the health of your business, allows for better planning, and makes applying for grants and loans easier.
Professional Service Referrals
As a small or family-owned business, outside expertise can help you scale. We can connect you to professional services that you need to be able to operate your business, such as IT, accounting, or marketing.
Technical Assistance
We can help you navigate City licensing, permits, and applications to ensure your new or existing business is in compliance– and avoiding fines.
Target Marketing
Do you need help better identifying who your target customer is? We can help you create a plan and goals to get more customers in the door, allowing for more strategic and cost-effective marketing.
Access to Capital
Need help getting a loan to grow or start your business? We can help prepare you to be loan-ready and connect you to lending institutions.
GROUP CLASSES & TRAININGS
COHOSTED WORKSHOPS
See our calendar for upcoming business development workshops. Past partners have included experts from the City of Chicago, BACP, Health Department, financial institutions, insurance agencies, and more small business experts.
ABOUT SBA COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR
The Northwest Side CDC is a proud Spoke of the LISC Hub of the Small Business Administration Community Navigator program. Through this program small business can sign up for One on One Business Advising with support in financial assistance, access to capital, marketing, operations, and business development.
SBA Community Navigator | SBA Website | LISC Website | One on one Advising
ABOUT NBDC
As an affiliate of Northwest Side Housing Center, the Northwest Side Community Development Corporation is a Neighborhood Business Development Center (NBDC) delegate agency of the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP). Our organization is a Place-base Generalist and a Cultural Specialist. As a NBDC, we can assist local entrepreneurs in navigating City Hall through technological assistance and entrepreneur education, and can support you in navigating the following resources in Spanish and in English:
311 City Services | Business Education Workshops | Apply for a business license | Renew your business license | Public Way Use Permits | Liquor License Information
SMALL BUSINESS CENTER
The Small Business Center (SBC) is the business licensing division of the City of Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) and the City’s “one-stop-shop” for business licensing, public way use permitting, and connecting entrepreneurs to business resources.
SERVICE AREA
NBDC-specific resources and services are available to small businesses within the following geographic boundaries:
North: Belmont
South: North
East: Pulaski
West: Narragansett
links to resources