The West Ridge Chamber of Commerce weekly E-magazine | |
The
West Ridge Chamber of Commerce appreciates your continued support!
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Remember to support your local businesses and
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Thank you
Patron & Corporate Members!
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Say Hello to our
New and Returning
Members and Sponsors!
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Thank you for being a returning member and a returning
West Ridge Holiday Bazaar sponsor!
Aegis Administrative Services
Protect your business with claims management services from Aegis. We are a multi-line independent third party adjusting firm specializing in Property and Casualty claims. While our team is proficient in managing various Property and Casualty products, we place an emphasis on our Workers' Compensation expertise. Our performance results consistently exceed the industry standards, which translates to cost savings.
888-881-2307
info@aegisadmin.com
Visit their website now!
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Thank you for being a returning member and a
West Ridge Holiday Bazaar sponsor!
Great Lakes Credit Union
As a not-for-profit financial cooperative, Great Lakes Credit Union has been putting our Banking for a Greater Good mission to work since 1938. We’re proud to serve more than 105,000 members in Chicagoland and surrounding areas, and to give back to our members and communities through education, volunteerism, and partnerships.
Every penny we make goes back to you (not shareholders) in the form of well-designed products and services, better rates, lower fees, and community investment. Because the way we see it – whether you’re new to the financial world, a seasoned investor, or a savvy small business owner – when you succeed we succeed.
800-982-7850
Visit their website now!
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Welcome!
Earwig Music Company, Inc.
Earwig Music Company, Inc. was founded in October 1978 in Chicago by Michael Frank as a record label and artist management company. The label’s mission is to make and release new and reissue recordings by African American blues and jazz musicians and artists working in the African American oral tradition, to facilitate career opportunities for the musicians, while whenever possible recording material not previously recorded by the artists, and to introduce blues fans to a wider range of blues artists than they would otherwise hear, by taking them to clubs in the African American community and by producing special shows.
773-960-7064
mfrank@earwigmusic.com
Visit their website now!
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Welcome!
Saudi Visa US
Welcome to Saudi Visa, the trusted online platform that helps U.S. citizens and eligible countries apply for travel visas to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia quickly, securely, and with confidence. Whether you’re planning a last-minute tourist getaway, traveling for an event, visiting for leisure, or preparing for an unforgettable Umrah pilgrimage, our streamlined online system makes the process fast and stress-free from start to finish. In most cases, Saudi visas are approved and delivered to you in less than 24 hours. So if you’re thinking about traveling soon, now is the time to apply.
714-408-9575
support@saudivisa.us
Visit their website now!
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FREE Medicare 101 seminar
Wednesday, October 14 6:30–7:30 p.m.
at JASC.
The seminar will also be available online for those unable to attend in person.
Please RSVP to pdesouza@jasc-chicago.org
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West Ridge
Chamber of Commerce
2027 Community Guide
Don’t miss this great marketing opportunity!
Dear Chamber Member and Business Leaders,
Would you like to market your business products and services to WEST RIDGE homeowners and visitors all year long? Of course you would! You have that opportunity by placing your ad in the new West Ridge Chamber of Commerce
2027 Community Guide.
West Ridge Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Kathy Chapman and
the Town Square/Daily Herald Media Group will produce this year’s publication.
Our guide is a remarkable advertising tool, which is highly visible and distributed
throughout the year by the Chamber of Commerce. Over 11,000+ copies will be
distributed to local residents door to door.
Our publication will also be on-line in the form of an Electronic Magazine and
advertisers will have Interactive links to their own websites.
As the main publication of the West Ridge Chamber of Commerce, we take great pride in our neighborhood Directory. This publication is supported solely by advertising and is a special opportunity that comes once a year. Don’t miss the opportunity to promote your business for the entire year.
Our representative from the Daily Herald is Kathy Chapman and he will be contacting you with the information over the next few weeks. Kathy can be reached at 773-251-8644 or e-mail her at kchapman@tspubs.com.
Thank you again for your ongoing support. Your involvement, financial commitment and enthusiasm with the West Ridge Chamber of Commerce is appreciated.
Sincerely,
Larissa Tyler, Executive Director Irv Loundy, President
West Ridge Chamber of Commerce West Ridge Chamber of Commerce
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West Ridge Holiday Bazaar 2026
Vendor/Artist Application
now open! Register here!
(Limited Space! - Register soon!)
The West Ridge Chamber of Commerce (WRCC) is pleased to announce its fourth annual Holiday Bazaar especially produced for the West Ridge community! We seek to primarily feature local artists and their artworks but welcome other interested artists who want to participate.
The Holiday Bazaar will be held at the Warren Park Fieldhouse on
Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM and there is free parking. The fee to participate is $60. We want to offer a variety of artworks for purchase. Many local artists are working on this project and are excited to be able to offer the public a chance to buy original artworks.
We will provide Wi-Fi, electrical connections, tables and chairs. Please email to info@westridgechamber.org if you have questions or comments. Submission deadline: October 31, 2026.
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Engage with the vibrant West Ridge community!
We Make Sponsorship MEANINGFUL, FUN and DELICIOUS! 💙👑 ❤️🍔 💛
Sponsor a WRCC event!
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WRCC Shred Day
Sun., October, 11, 2026
8:30am-11:30am
WRCC's Fall Shred Day is on
Sun., October, 11, 2026, where hundreds of community members will bring their sensitive documents to be securely shredded, and meds to electronic devices to be disposed! Contact us at info@westridgechamber.org
Sponsor here!
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Business After Hours
Week days after 5pm
Promote your business for free by hosting and/or sponsoring a WRCC "Business After Hours" event at your establishment where fellow West Ridge business owners and residents gather after work to mix and mingle over delicious food and drinks! For details call 773-793-4326, email to info@westridgechamber.org.
Click here for more details...
Register here!
Sponsor here!
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REMINDER!
192 Public Parking spaces have arrived in
West Ridge!
Congratulations West Ridge! You now have 192 new public parking spaces thanks to the Grand Re-opening of the parking lot at the corner of Devon Ave. & Rockwell! WRCC Executive Director, Larissa Tyler and WRCC President, Irv Loundy were on hand during the ribbon cutting along with the Drexel Properties team who managed the massive renovation project and the Metropolis team who will be managing the site.
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Business License Fee Updates
As part of the 2026 City of Chicago Budget, business license fees have been adjusted. These adjustments help maintain essential city services while supporting long-term financial stability.
As of January 1, 2026, the fees are as follows:
- Limited Business License: $500 for a two-year license
- Regulated Business License: $1,000 for a two-year license
- Hotel license: $1,000 plus $2.20/room for a two-year license
- Booting of Motor Vehicles license: $1,000 for a two-year license plus one-time fee of $100 per location
- Pharmaceutical Representative license: $750 per year
- Massage Establishment license: $550 for a two-year license
- Shared Housing Licensing and Registration:
- Shared Housing Unit registration: $250 per year
- Shared Housing Unit Operator license: $500 for a two-year license
- Application for Commissioner’s Adjustment: $360 per application
- Commercial vessel license: $600 for any passenger occupancy limit
As of February 1, 2026, the fees are as follows:
- Livery: $1,200 for a two-year license
- Charter/sightseeing vehicle: $1,000
- Medical carrier vehicle: $600
The City of Chicago remains committed to providing business resources, programs and streamlined services to help businesses continue to start and grow in Chicago.
For information on business license types and to apply or renew a business license, visit Chicago.gov/BusinessLicensing.
2026 Chicago Small Biz Expos
BACP announced the 2026 Chicago Small Business Expos series dates and locations.
At a Chicago Small Bix Expo you can:
- Network with like-minded entrepreneurs.
- Gain industry expert insights.
- Expand professional network.
- Connect with government agencies.
- Be inspired and find answers.
- Get access to expert advice and free resources.
- Attend workshops and keynote address.
- Learn new actionable business strategies.
- Get professional headshots or fun selfies.
- And much more!
To register for a 2026 Chicago Small Biz Expo:
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Saturday, August 29, 2026 held at Malcolm X College: Register
To learn more, visit Chicago.gov/BizExpo.
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The Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) accepts grant applications each month in various TIF districts across Chicago.
Eligible businesses must submit their application during the month-long application window for their TIF district to qualify for funding. To find out if and when SBIF grants are available for your business, search the address on the eligibility page.
Downloadable 2026 rollout calendars are available in the following languages: English | Spanish | Chinese | Vietnamese | Polish
The Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) provides reimbursement grant funding for permanent building improvements and repairs across the city.
Offered by the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) to tenants and owners of industrial and commercial properties, SBIF grants are funded by Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenues in designated TIF districts citywide.
Program participants can receive grants to cover between 30 percent and 90 percent of the cost of remodeling work, with a maximum grant of $150,000 for commercial properties and $250,000 for industrial properties. The grant, which is administered by SomerCor on the City’s behalf, does not have to be repaid.
SBIF grants are not awarded on a competitive basis. Grants are awarded to applicants who meet eligibility criteria and follow program requirements.
Who is eligible?
- Business properties located in a TIF district where SBIF funds are available and the SBIF is open for applications
- Commercial businesses with gross annual sales up to $9 million on average over the previous three years
- Commercial property owners with net worth up to $ 9 million and liquid assets up to $500,000
- Industrial businesses with up to 200 full-time employees
- Residential projects are not eligible for SBIF grants
Learn more about Eligibility
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Cut the Tape for Small Business
Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) announced Cut the Tape for Small Business, a comprehensive effort to update and streamline the City’s administrative processes in service of making it faster and easier to open and operate a small business in Chicago. Cut the Tape for Small Business is designed to serve as both a strategic framework and a long-term resource for the small business ecosystem.
Building on the success of Mayor Johnson’s Cut the Tape initiative, which has advanced more than 100 concrete actions to streamline and expedite housing and commercial development processes, the new program is designed to uplift and empower small businesses across Chicago while building upon the Johnson administration's long-standing work to support entrepreneurs and business owners.
“Cut the Tape for Small Business demonstrates our dedication to the thriving small business ecosystem across Chicago,” said BACP Commissioner Ivan Capifali. “Under the Johnson administration, BACP is aligning resources and systems to meet the real-world needs of entrepreneurs in every stage of business. The department is fully focused on being responsive and adaptive to the needs of small businesses across the city.”
Cut the Tape for Small Business addresses top concerns while focusing on improving City processes and programs by reducing both cost and time burdens and barriers that small businesses face across our neighborhood corridors. From Englewood to Edgewater and Austin to Uptown, the goals are designed to streamline and simplify regulatory processes, enhance transparency and increase access to small business education and resources.
Cut the Tape for Small Businesses priorities include:
- Develop clear guidance for business owners to help them navigate pre-licensing City inspections to ensure clear expectations and requirements.
- Simplify and digitize licensing and permitting processes to reduce complexity.
- Streamline the administrative debt check process to reduce bureaucratic hurdles.
- Develop an interactive online zoning map to provide a user-friendly overlay of business activity types allowed at specific locations.
- Explore new regulation frameworks for emerging industries to ensure Chicago remains competitive.
- Leverage cultural storytelling and cross-corridor marketing strategies to unlock the potential of neighborhood tourism.
- Eliminate information silos between City departments to ensure a cohesive and supportive environment for businesses.
- Collaborate with City Colleges of Chicago to provide in-community access to education and empowerment programs for entrepreneurs.
- Launch a digital literacy initiative targeting under-resourced entrepreneurs, bridging the technology gap.
Cut the Tape for Small Business demonstrates a renewed commitment by the City to foster growth and promote long-term success for small businesses. BACP conducted regional roundtables with Neighborhood Business Development Centers, such as Chambers of Commerce and local economic development organizations, and local business owners to identify immediate and long-term priorities of the small business community.
For more information, visit Chicago.gov/CutTheTape.
| | Enroll in the BACP Entrepreneur Certificate Program! | | |
The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) Entrepreneur Certificate Program is a free program for anyone interested in starting or growing a business in Chicago to gain knowledge across various essential business topics.
Since the program launched, more than 1,000 Chicago entrepreneurs and business owners have succesfully completed the program.
All Program graduates, based in Chicagoland, are eligible to apply for the Entrepreneur Loan Program with BACP’s partner bank, CIBC.
For BACP Entrepreneur Certificate Program details, visit: Chicago.gov/BACPCertificate
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Small Business Storefront Activation Program
Storefront activations are the culmination of $2 million in grant funding the City awarded to seventeen local community and economic development organizations to support small businesses by activating previously vacant storefronts across the city.
These grantees worked closely with small business owners, artists, and landlords to provide rapid relief to small businesses by designing and implementing vacant storefront activations on commercial corridors just in time for the Holidays. Through collaboration and dedication of these organizations, Chicagoans will have a chance to shop at 25 Pop-Up spaces filled with over 140 vendors and view art from over 50 artists in 30 previously vacant storefronts.
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Regional Business Centers
Chicago Business Centers (CBC) are eight Chicago-based business service organizations located in neighborhoods to serve as regional hubs providing business licensing assistance and other resources for small businesses. The eight centers fill the current gap of local business resources, particularly for entrepreneurs in historically underserved locations and populations.
To learn more about the Chicago Business Center and to set up a consultation with your local CBC visit www.Chicago.gov/CBC.
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Free Business Education Workshops!
BACP offers free business education workshops or webinars every Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning. Due to COVID-19, all programs are currently being offered as webinars.
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Grant Funding Opportunities
Apply for the Small Business Improvement Fund
SBIF is offered to tenants and owners of industrial and commercial properties. Program participants can receive grants to cover between 30 percent to 90 percent of the cost of remodeling work, with a maximum grant of $150,000 for commercial properties and $250,000 for industrial properties. The grant, which is administered by SomerCor on the City’s behalf, does not have to be repaid. To learn about eligibility and to apply, please visit Chicago.gov/SBIF.
American Rescue Plan Act Funding - City, County, and State Grant Opportunities
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is a national pandemic recovery initiative designed to support local governments in addressing ongoing public health and economic challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. This unprecedented level of funding will be transformative for cities and municipalities throughout the country.
Information about all active City of Chicago, Cook County, and State of Illinois American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Request for Proposals (RFPs) and grant opportunities can be found by visiting GreaterChicagoTogether.org. Information on City of Chicago programs can be found by visiting Chicago.gov/RecoveryPlan.
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