Dear Chicagoan,

As the holiday season approaches, I encourage Chicago residents and visitors to make a positive impact in our communities by shopping local. Whether it’s shopping for gifts, dining out or enjoying neighborhood events, it’s a wonderful time to celebrate the people and places that make Chicago. This season and year-round, support local businesses to sustain the vibrancy and prosperity of our city.

Throughout 2025, we have seen how BACP programs, services and partnerships have strengthened businesses, supported workers and protected consumers. At BACP, we launched the Shop Local Chicago: Neighborhood Pride campaign, announced the grantees of the Neighborhood Business Development Center Program serving business owners and entrepreneurs in every ward of Chicago for the first time, expanded the benefits of the BACP Entrepreneur Certificate Program, hosted three Chicago Small Biz Expos with more than 2,000 attendees and announced the grant awardees of the second round of the Community Growers program and the second round of the Good Food Fund program. These accomplishments remind us of what we can achieve when we work together. 

BACP Big Three: 

• BACP launched the Shop Local Chicago: Neighborhood Pride campaign. The campaign builds on the year-round Shop Local Chicago campaign by encouraging residents and visitors to explore new parts of the city, meet local business owners and neighbors, and share their experiences. Ahead of the holiday shopping season, the campaign serves as a reminder to shop locally to help preserve the unique character of Chicago’s neighborhoods. For more information, including a marketing toolkit, visit Chicago.gov/ShopLocal.
• BACP and City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) launched a partnership to expand the benefits of the BACP Entrepreneur Certificate Program and offers an opportunity for aspiring and established business owners to gain formal recognition for the skills and knowledge they've developed through real-world experience—which also allows them to earn college credit for Business 111, a foundational course in business principles at CCC. For information, visit Chicago.gov/BACPCertificate.  
• BACP launched a new Office of Labor Standards (OLS) webpage featuring Reports and Investigations, which includes complaints, settlements and citations. The interactive dashboards enhance public transparency and promote accountability. To view the data, visit and Chicago.gov/LaborStandards.

While we embrace the holiday spirit, I want to remind residents and visitors that the City of Chicago is committed to inclusion, equity and justice. BACP has strengthened collaboration with the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights to ensure that all workers and business owners, regardless of immigration status, have access to accurate information and safe channels for assistance.

Additionally, signs are available for private landowners and leaders to post on their property. The signage states that no law enforcement official may enter non-public areas of the property for the purpose of civil immigration enforcement. Participation is voluntary, but encouraged. The free signage is available for pickup at City Hall (121 N. LaSalle St., 8th Floor, Room 805) during regular business hours.

Looking ahead to 2026, BACP will continue building on our accomplishments by directing resources to where they can make the greatest impact. Our goal is to ensure each of Chicago’s 77 communities remain vibrant and thriving.  

I wish you a joyful holiday season and may the new year bring you health and happiness. 

Sincerely,

Ivan Capifali

Commissioner

Mayor Brandon Johnson and BACP Commissioner Capifali at a press conference announcing the partnership with City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) for the BACP Entrepreneur Certificate Program. Now, those who complete the program are eligible for Credit for Prior Learning with CCC.

More: Chicago.gov/BACPCertificate

BACP Commissioner Capifali at the last Chi Food Truck Fest of 2025. This year marked the 10th season of the fest. Over 35 trucks participated this season, providing downtown residents and visitors additional lunch options. The fest returns in 2026.

More:

Chicago.gov/FoodTruckFest

BACP hosted its last Chicago Small Biz Expo of 2025 in September at Malcolm X College. Attendees met with over 30 exhibitors, attended workshops, heard keynote speaker Erica Bethe Levin, CEO of Globowl, share her story and more.

More:

Chicago.gov/BizExpo

The Office of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights (IMRR) is dedicated to improving services and engaging Chicago’s diverse immigrant and refugee communities through enhanced collaboration with community organizations, academic institutions, and the private sector. Through the IMRR Office, Mayor Brandon Johnson is committed to working to improve the day-to-day experiences of our city's foreign-born residents while delivering economic, social, and cultural benefits for all Chicagoans.

Helpful links:

• Family Preparedness Plan
• Know Your Rights Resource Guide
• Illinois Immigration Info Hub
• You Belong Palm Card

The resources are available in multiple languages and IMRR is actively working to translate them into more languages.

BACP is sharing these resources, which include resources prepared by third parties, for informational purposes only. Nothing in this communication is intended to be legal advice, and it should not be used, taken, or relied upon as legal advice.

More Resources: Chicago.gov/KnowYourRights.

IMRR programs and services, visit the IMRR website.

Shop Local Chicago

As the holiday season approaches, BACP wants to encourage Chicagoans to Shop Local. The Shop Local Chicago campaign aims to increase spending along commercial corridors, boost our local economy, provide support to small businesses and foster community engagement. Learn more: Chicago.gov/ShopLocal. 

This year, Small Business Saturday will be November 29, between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It is a day to celebrate and support small businesses. When consumers make purchases from independent, locally owned businesses, a significant portion of money gets recycled back into the local economy.

Make the most of the gift-buying season by becoming involved with local campaigns. To learn about the different activities in support of Small Business Saturday reach out to your local Neighborhood Business Development Centers (NBDCs). Learn more: Chicago.gov/NBDC. 

Holiday Shopping Tips

The comprehensive Be Informed. Be Protected. campaign aims to provide consumers with simplified tips and resources across a wide array of topics. They are geared towards protecting consumers from fraud and informing them of the actions they can take should they they have become a victim of fraud.

Here are some helpful consumer protection tips to make your holiday shopping experience a jolly one:

• Keep Your Receipts – Receipts are the key to hassle-free returns and cash refunds. Without a receipt, a retailer may reject the return or may only provide a merchandise credit.
• Check Store Policies Before Purchasing - Retailers set their own return and exchange policies, they are under no legal obligation to offer refunds. Stores in Chicago are required to post return and exchange policies in plain view, and to provide consumers with a written receipt.
• Gift Cards – Gift cards purchased in Illinois can have an expiration date that must be good for at least five years after the date of issuance. If the gift card does expire, the date must be on the card. Issuers of gift cards are not allowed to reduce the value of the card or charge the card value after time.
• Check Your Credit Card Statement – Always check your credit card statement thoroughly. If something looks suspicious or unfamiliar, contact your credit card company first.

More: Chicago.gov/Consumer Protection.

Ride Smart Chicago

BACP ensures Chicago’s public passenger vehicles are safe, reliable and provide residents and visitors with positive transportation options.

Additionally, BACP inspects public vehicles to keep passengers and the public safe.

The Ride Smart Chicago campaign provides safety and consumer awareness information for passengers of taxicabs, ride-hail, and other public passenger vehicles.

More: Chicago.gov/RideSmart

All for the Love of Chicago



Earlier this fall, Choose Chicago, the city's official destination marketing organization, launched a new social media campaign to take back the story of our city. Launched in response to the rise of damaging rhetoric and distorted media attention, All for the Love of Chicago calls on everyone who loves this city to share their unapologetic, bold, and unfiltered stories: why we love Chicago, what it means, and the lasting effect it leaves behind. The campaign has taken off, with hundreds of millions of views across social media and traditional media, tens of thousands of followers, positive local editorial coverage, and over 100 inspiring posts and videos to remind us all why we love Chicago. 

Want to get involved? Record a video or post a photo about why you love Chicago with the hashtag #allfortheloveofchicago. Make sure to tag @allfortheloveofchicago or DM the video to @allfortheloveofchicago on Instagram or TikTok. 

Holiday Tips for Liquor Licensees

BACP hopes the holidays will be enjoyable for people who join in the festivities at venues throughout the city. To ensure that all those attending and participating can do so safely, it is important that public safety and order be maintained along the streets and public ways adjacent to liquor establishments.

The City of Chicago is concerned that public safety be maintained in all hospitality venues. To that end, all liquor licensees must strictly comply with regulations governing the service of alcohol and cooperate with City agencies in their effort to monitor and control any liquor and public safety violations. City and State liquor laws will be strictly enforced and the City will inspect liquor establishments for compliance during the holiday season.

With your cooperation, holiday festivities will remain safe and enjoyable for all the patrons, residents, and visitors to your business.

For more information, view tips for liquor licenses.

Road to Recovery

Current programs:

• BACP awarded 13 community and economic development organizations grants to provide rapid relief to small businesses by activating vacant storefronts into burgeoning business spaces. To find Storefront Activation Program locations, visit the website below for addresses and hours of participating businesses in communities all across Chicago.

More: Chicago.gov/BACPRecoveryPlan.

Mayor's Office of Community Safety



Info: The Mayor's Office of Community Safety offers small businesses information and opportunities to strengthen community engagement as well as to provide support with the handling of 311 requests addressing safety concerns.

More: Visit Chicago.gov/CommunitySafety or email mocs@cityofchicago.org

Office of the City Clerk’s Chicago CityKey Program



Info: Join the Office of the City Clerk’s Chicago CityKey program as a business partner. CityKey is a government-issued ID card available to all Chicagoans. Additionally, it may be used as a Chicago Public Library card, a Chicago Transit Authority Ventra card and a Chicago Rx prescription drug discount card. When joining as a business partner, you will be providing benefits to more than 100,000 Keyholders and helping them gain access to many of the notable things that make our city great. It’s a free partnership and a way to promote your business.

More: Visit bit.ly/citykeypartner or email citykey@cityofchicago.org.

Neighborhood Opportunity Fund



Info: The Department of Planning and Development's Neighborhood Opportunity Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF) provides grants up to $250,000 for small business and cultural projects located along West, Southwest, and South Side commercial corridors. NOF grants are provided as reimbursement for up to 75% of eligible project expenses with a maximum grant of $250,000. Applicants may qualify for additional funding for Technical Assistance.

Deadline: The next NOF application deadline is Friday, November 14, 2025. 

More: Chicago.gov/NOF

Small Business Improvement Fund 



Info: The Chicago Department of Planning and Development Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) provides reimbursement grant funding for permanent building improvements and repairs across the city. Program participants may receive grants covering between 30 to 90 percent of the cost of remodeling work, with maximum grants upwards of $150,000 for commercial properties and $250,000 for industrial properties.

Deadline: SBIF applications may be submitted during monthly rollout periods for individual TIF districts.

More: Chicago.gov/SBIF

The BACP Office of Labor Standards (OLS) oversees Chicago's landmark labor laws. Educational outreach materials on Chicago's labor laws are available in 12 languages. 

More: Chicago.gov/LaborStandards

On October 21, 2025, BACP, in partnership with Chicago Public Schools (CPS), held its second Chicago Youth Biz Expo at Malcolm X College.

• The free expo brought together more than 170 CPS sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in embarking on their entrepreneurial journeys. Participants were Career and Technical Education students exploring pathways in business, innovation, and leadership. 
• Students attended workshops, heard from a panel of young entrepreneurs and networked with over 20 exhibitors.
• The expo provided students with expert guidance on how to launch or grow a business in the City of Chicago. 
• Students also had the opportunity to take professional headshots at the expo and some even had the chance to meet Mayor Brandon Johnson. 

The Chicago Youth Biz Expo is a spinoff of BACPs Chicago Small Biz Expos. To learn more about expos, visit Chicago.gov/BizExpo.

The 13^th annual Taxicab Excellence Award Ceremony was held on Thursday, October 16, 2025, recognizing 10 outstanding taxicab drivers for displaying exemplary service in 2024, to people with disabilities in Chicago. BACP Commissioner, Ivan Capifali and the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities Commissioner Rachael Arfa presented the awards.

Re-cap:

• 10 taxi chauffeurs responded to, and completed 5,250 WAV trips in 2024 through the City of Chicago Centralized WAV Taxi Dispatch Service, managed by contractor Curb Mobility.  
• Each recipient was awarded a free medallion. For the recipients, a taxicab medallion symbolizes independence and freedom from lease payments, allowing taxicabs chauffeurs to transition from lease cab driver to small business owner.
• The award highlights the City’s effort to expand access to WAV taxis and serves as an incentive for taxi drivers to drive and operate wheelchair accessible taxis.

Chicago residents and visitors can request a WAV taxicab ride by calling 1-888-WAV-CABS

(1-888-928-2227) or by downloading the CURB app. Passengers will also be able to make in-app electronic payments for their rides via the CURB app. For more information, including steps on how to download the CURB app, visit GoCurb.com.

Business Education Webinar Series:

Free webinars taught by industry professionals, not-for-profit agencies, and government agencies on a wide variety of topics including: business licensing, operations, financial resources, marketing, and more.

Empower Hour is a monthly webinar series highlighting Chicago business owners, their stories and their role in shaping Chicago’s business community.

The webinar is a candid conversation between BACP Chief Small Business Officer Lotika Pai and a local entrepreneur. Attendees have the opportunity to ask questions during the Q&A session.

November Empower Hour

November 20 at 2:00 p.m.

As we approach the holiday season, the shopping spirit focuses on the small businesses that are the heart of their communities. Max Candle Co., located in the Roseland community, produces high-quality and eco-friendly scented candles, as well as aromatherapy products used to be tools for relaxation, healing, uplighting, and support. Also, Max Candle is a minority-owned makerspace and retail business that uniquely integrates workforce development, small business support, and community revitalization—all from the heart of Chicago’s Far South Side. The business participated in the Far South Community Development Corporation Storefront Pop-Ups, part of the BACP Small Business Storefront Activation Program.

December Empower Hour

December 18 at 2:00 p.m.

We shine a holiday spotlight on Scratch Goods, known for its interactive, guided skincare experience the Mask Bar, located Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. The core of the business stems from their product line, established in 2011 - simple and handmade skincare made with gentle, food-grade ingredients. Their space in the West Loop is both a retail space for skincare shopping AND an event space. Their ticketed event, the Mask Bar, is open for booking on their website - guests book a table with friends for an hour in their sunny, plant-filled space, where they're led through an interactive skincare experience involving hot towels, handmade skincare, and customized treatments for all skin types. 

City Inspections Webinars (monthly):

Each month, BACP, along with the Department of Public Health and the Department of Buildings host a webinar entitled, "Ask Questions, Get Answers." On the first Wednesday of the month, the webinar provides insight on how to operate a compliant business within the City of Chicago. Topics to include:

• Preparing for inspections.
• Building permits and sign display requirements.
• Food inspection overview and required certificates.
• Zoning review procedures.

The next City Inspections webinar will be held on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.

BACP Entrepreneur Certificate Program

The BACP “Behind the Business License" video series features in-depth conversations between a Neighborhood Business Development Center, a small business owner and City of Chicago Chief Small Business Officer Lotika Pai.

Each episode details a business owner sharing their first-hand experiences working with the City of Chicago and their local business service organization.

New episodes air every other Tuesday on Cable 25 and are re-run continuously throughout the week. Episodes can also be viewed on the BACP YouTube channel. 

More: Chicago.gov/BTBL.

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