Join us at the Goose Island Barrel House for our Annual Meeting where we'll share our 2019 successes, our priorities for 2020, and you'll hear from special guest Deputy Mayor for Neighborhood & Economic Development Samir Mayekar! You will enjoy lunch, networking with local business owners and community members, hear about ICNC's neighborhood planning initiatives and advocacy priorities, and learn how you can get involved with making a difference. 

For current Make City tenants and ICNC members, there is a code for FREE registration. Please contact Hannah Jones for more information.

Wednesday, March 25th

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Goose Island Barrel House - 603 N. Sacramento Blvd. 

$15 for non-members, FREE for members

Register here!

Join the Illinois Small Business Development Center International Trade Center at ICNC for upcoming workshops!

Starting Your Business in IL + GATA Pre-Award Preparation Sessions February 13th Understand the basic elements of starting a business in Illinois. Session will also touch on elements of entrepreneurship. Additionally, The Grant Accountability and Transparency Act Pre-Award information will help you prepare to quickly act on Notice of Funding Opportunities. Register here!

Trademark Law Workshop February 18th Northwestern Pritzker School of Law's Donald Pritzker Entrepreneurship Law Center will teach attendees about the risks of potential trademark infringement suits, how to protect a company's trademark rights, how to determine the strength of a proposed trademark, and how to protect trademark rights on a federal level. Register here!

March 19th
Businesses will gain a better understanding of the Chinese market and have solid knowledge of how to position their company and products to succeed.

Register here!

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The Illinois Manufacturers' Association is accepting nominations for its Makers Madness: The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois competition! Learn more about the competition and nominate a product here. 

"Connecting with Merly Thomas and the SBDC program has been instrumental to the growth of Victus Ars. Before moving into ICNC, my team and I attended various education events including Financial Planning for the Small Business Owner and Small Business Legal Clinic. Another of the many benefits to working with the SBDC program has been learning about city services we have since utilized. Merly goes above and beyond to connect us to events and resources - most recently the Chicago Women Mentoring Co-op. This highly selective mentoring co-op chose our lab manager out of 150 women to be in the 50 member cohort. We are excited about the continued accelerated growth Victus Ars will achieve with SBDC's support." 

                                   - Michelle Frame, Victus Ars

The third cohort of the Impact Culinary Training Program will begin in Spring 2020! The program aims to provide the young adults with 8 weeks of culinary training in the kitchen, followed by 4 weeks of experience working in a restaurant during an internship. Recruitment for the next cohort will begin on February 17th. Learn more about the program and stay up-to-date with recruitment  here . 

Dreaming of starting a food business, but not sure where to start? Join the Sprouts Incubation Program; a new six-month program developed by The Hatchery Chicago to ignite your entrepreneurial spirit and drive your business from idea to reality.

Through a structured class schedule and dedicated support from The Hatchery team and community, entrepreneurs will develop their concepts into fully-hatched business plans in six months. Residents of the West Side community are eligible for a 100% discount on the cost of the program. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. 

- Are you ready to hire staff but lack the time to screen resumes? Our workforce development department can assist you!  Learn more.

- There are some important HR updates for 2020:

• Employee Handbook Review Tips
• Illinois Minimum Wage Increase
• Sexual Harassment Prevention Mandate for all Illinois Employers

To discuss your HR needs, please contact Nancy or Priscilla in our Workforce Development Department!

Enjoy a thriving entrepreneurial community and immediate access to ICNC's advising, export, and advocacy services at ICNC's Make City incubator alongside 100 other small businesses.

  

Click here to view the available spaces.