Hello Uptown Business Center Clients and Partners,

For the UBC service area, it's time to check your property tax bills and decide whether or not you want to appeal! More information on the process and causes to appeal are below.

If you are considering a Public Place of Amusement License, don't miss the opportunity to hear directly from BACP about the common requirements, challenges, and costs tomorrow at our virtual webinar. Other events are featured below-we hope to see you at one this summer!

Don't miss resources and recordings from previous events, along with an updating grants list, on our website at exploreuptown.org/ubc.

As always, please don't hesitate to schedule an Uptown Business Center consultation so we can discuss personalized support for your small business.

Best, 

Kylie Ruscheinski

Uptown Business Center Director

UPTOWN BUSINESS CENTER EVENTS

Public Place of Amusement 101

TOMORROW, Tuesday, July 23rd | 12:00-1:00PM

Virtual Webinar via Zoom

Presented by the Uptown Business Center and Quad Communities Development Corporation, learn more about the Public Place of Amusement (PPA) Chicago business license, including licensing requirements, costs, and estimated timeline. This is a virtual webinar that features a presentation by Amanda Weiland, Assistant Commissioner for the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection.



Register for this Free Event

Uptown Women's Networking

Tuesday, July 30th | 3:00-4:00PM

Uptown Chamber of Commerce, 4619 N Broadway

Come together with other women whose work brings them to Uptown. Whether you are the keyholder, founder, our front line staff; if your business is a service provider, bar, or you're in healthcare...take a break and come by the chamber to get to know other women and share, support, and forge new connections. This event is $15 for Members and $25 for Non-members.



Register for this Event

Money Smart with Wintrust Bank: Risk Management

Tuesday, August 20th | 3:00-4:00PM

Uptown Business Center, 4619 N Broadway

Having a risk management plan is critical for small businesses. Learn the common warning signs for risks, how to identify threat areas, and form your business's risk management plan with this free workshop in partnership with Wintrust Bank.



Register for this Free Event

REVIEW YOUR BUSINESS'S PROPERTY TAX BILL AND APPEAL BEFORE AUGUST 14TH

For most small business owners, property taxes affect your cost of doing business. Cook County's Lakeview Township is currently open for assessment appeals until August 14th. Whether or not you own the property your business operates in, anyone who pays property taxes can file an appeal, including commercial property renters.

Don't miss an opportunity to potentially reduce your property tax bill! Look up your property via address or PIN at cookcountyassessor.com. On the website, click on Data-->Valuation Reports-->Township-->Commercial Reassessment Rebate to view data from the Cook County Assessor's Office.

Verify that the information listed for your property is accurate, including the total square footage and income estimates. You can also view the property values assessed for similar nearby properties. There are three main common reasons to file an assessment appeal for your property:

• Lack of Uniformity Similar commercial properties in your area have been assessed at a lower market value than yours.

• Overvaluation You do not think the market value in the notice aligns with your property's value based on the amount of income your property produces, such as leasing prices.

• Incorrect Property Description The commercial details listed for your property are not accurate.

LEARN MORE

The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection and the Cook County Assessor's Office partnered on a webinar to summarize the property tax assessment and appeals process.

View Webinar Here Once Posted

You can also review the document handouts from our recent Property Tax Appeals workshop with Raila & Associates for more information.

View Handouts Here

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

If you'd like support reviewing your property information or filing an appeal, the Uptown Business Center, Uptown United, and Uptown Chamber of Commerce will provide support at 4619 N Broadway the week of July 29-August 2 from 9am-5pm.

SCORE PITCH COMPETITION

Apply by July 31, 2024

Score's 60th Anniversary Pitch Competition is designed for small business owners who want to improve their presentation and selling skills. Participants will receive valuable insights and guidance from SCORE mentors and industry experts, ensuring they are well-prepared to deliver a compelling pitch for this event and for prospective customers and investors. Three winners will be selected from each competition to receive financial awards. UBC clients can apply for the online pitch competition.

Applications are due 10:59PM Eastern on July 31st.

Eligibility:

• Applicant is 18 years of age or older with an active operating business
• Business is based within the US
• Applicant is only participating in one Score 60th Anniversary Pitch Competition and submits their application by the deadline

Selected applicants will be paired with a SCORE Pitch Expert who will review your application and assist business owners with creating their pitch. Contestants will record their pitch presentation, and finalists will be invited to pitch their business live. Apply now.

UBC CLIENT SPOTLIGHT:

COLOR ME MINE NORTH CENTER

Color Me Mine North Center is an independent, woman-owned business focused on connecting the full community to art through their studio. Visitors can select a ceramic piece to paint on their own or attend a variety of workshops and classes at 3849 N Lincoln Ave. Owner Niinnu Gupttaa is committed to serving as a community studio and is actively pursuing partnerships with other small businesses and organizations. Partnership opportunities include field trips for daycares & preschools, fundraiser partnerships with nonprofit organizations, and pop ups at breweries and other businesses. The UBC worked with Niinnu on sign permitting and marketing. Help us congratulate Color Me Mine North Center on their grand opening, which they just celebrated on July 11th!

Learn more by visiting their website at northcenter.colormemine.com or stopping by the studio. For businesses interested in partnership opportunities, contact Niinnu at northcenter@colormemine.com.