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Dear Downers Grove Businesses,

Welcome to the November update from SPARK, the Small Business Community Navigator Program focused on retaining and growing small businesses in our community.

SPARK exists to keep you informed about businesses thriving in our community and opportunities available to small businesses in need of assistance. With your collaboration, SPARK will strengthen our businesses and enhance the quality of life in Downers Grove!

Respectfully,

Bryan Gay

President & CEO

Downers Grove Economic Development Corporation

Downers Grove Visitors Bureau

1st SPARK Forum a Success!

Thank you to our commercial lending partners who participated in the "Access to Capital for Small and Mid-Sized Businesses" panel at Belmont Golf Club on October 19. Our featured experts included Tom Harris from Bank Financial in Downers Grove, Lori Ritzert and Beata Gesicki from Community Bank in Downers Grove, Cynthia Burkell of Huntington Bank in Downers Grove, and Anna Maria Kowalik of the Illinois Energy Conservation Authority (IECA).

A wide range of financing options were discussed including special lending programs for women, minority and veteran-owned businesses, commercial lending lines of credit, operating expense accounts and energy efficiency improvement programs.

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B2B Grants to Downers Grove Businesses Exceed $900,000!

Thanks to the State of Illinois Back to Business Grant Program, industries serving DuPage County that were hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic received more than $10 million in recovery grants. Of this total, more than $900,000 went to Hotels, Restaurants and Creative Arts businesses located right here in Downers Grove.

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Downers Grove Continues to Thrive!

The Q3 2023 Key Performance Indicators (KPI) Report is now available on the DGEDC website. KPIs in the latest report show that more money has been invested in our community, our unemployment rate is trending downward and we are creating jobs! We anticipate even more growth with the launch of SPARK, our Community Navigator Program.

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Now More Ways to Connect with DGEDC!

The DGEDC has launched new Facebook and Instagram profiles. Now you can connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram to stay informed about Downers Grove businesses, available resources and DGEDC news and events!