FIRST QUARTER 2010

Free Business Education Workshops at City Hall
Learn about the Business Sign Amnesty Program, How to Write a Business Plan or Prepare for City Inspections, Get Certified with the City, and more.
Click below to find the latest schedule.
http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/bacp/supp_info/business_educationworkshops.html

Navigating the City's Website Workshop
Business owners and residents learned first-hand just how user friendly the improved www.cityofchciago.org has become.  Any city-related topic attendees came up with, we found on the site. A few of the searches performed included:

• Apply for a Business License
• Apply for Permit Parking
• Get 2010 Event Dates
• Find (my) Police District and Beat (reports)
• Pay a Water Bill and Parking Ticket
• I Want a Garage Sale Permit

We also watched break dancers perform in Daley Plaza and the countdown to the Christmas Tree Lighting on the YouTube link.

The workshop will be held again in June.  In the meantime, we encourage you to visit the city website yourself.  You may also schedule a convenient time at our office or yours for a demonstration.

Thank You and Welcome

We extend grateful appreciation to residents Patrick Fogarty and Bob Martin for sharing time, ideas, and skills while serving on our Board of Directors for six and three years respectively.

Signature Development

It appears that the plan for development on the northwest corner at 111th & Kedzie will finally advance from the approvals and permitting stages to actual ground breaking.  Despite today’s tighter lending climate and modifications to the original design, officials were able to negotiate agreeable terms to allow the project to move forward. 

• Building permit issued January 28 
• Utility work has begun
• Alley to be rebuilt on north edge of site

SBIF

If you’ve been watching the transformation at 3301-5 W. 111th St., you see first-hand how the Small Business Improvement Fund works a catalyst for improving commercial properties. 

Money is still available for rebates on approved projects.  Depending on your business income, you could qualify for 25, 50, or even 75% rebates up to $150,000. 

Eligible expenses include window & door replacement, roof repairs, upgrades to flooring, heating, air conditioning, security, electric and plumbing systems, tuckpointing, awnings, signage and more. You can even get a rebate when purchasing adjacent property for expansion or parking!

Don’t miss out!  Visit www.somercor.com or call John or Derek at 312-360-3300

Earth Day Clean Up at Mount Greenwood Park

The Mount Greenwood Park Advisory Council is joining with the Friends of the Park to host an "Earth Day Parks Cleanup" event at Mount Greenwood Park Playground. Saturday, April 19th from 9am-12:00pm.  Visit the Mount Greenwood Park website for more details www.mountgreenwoodpark.com

CITY PRESS RELEASE January 13,2010

Chicago City Council passed a series of ordinances which are part of Mayor Daley’s Small Business Agenda that ease start-up and day-to-day operating burdens on small businesses by streamlining public way use permitting requirements and providing more options for business owners…

Specifically…

• …discounted package for a ‘bundled’ permit that consolidates on one joint application the three most common public way permits: business signs, canopies, awning and lights.
• Eliminated distinction in fees between electrical and non electrical signs and structures the permit fees to be based on the size of the sign…
• Also eliminates fees for landscaping, security cameras, moveable smoking management receptacles, and bicycle racks.
• The program (6 month voluntary program beginning April 15, 2010) will waive the building permit fee, zoning review fee and first year’s public way use fee for businesses with existing signs, canopy or awnings that do not have a building and or public was use permit.
• New business owners will pay for a first time business license that is directly proportional to the term of the license
• Business owners will have the flexibility to choose between a two-year or four-year license term.
• Expand installment options for business license fees to include liquor establishments.
• The proposed license fee changes will begin 120 from passage and approval of the ordinance.

Learn about the Chicago Business Sign Amnesty 2010

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 2010
        9:30am to 11:00am
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle Street – Room 805

Presented by Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection (BACP)

Any business that has a sign on their premise is required to obtain proper City permits. On April 15th, the City of Chicago will initiate the “On-premise Sign Amnesty Program,” a six-month voluntary compliance period to ensure all business owners are compliant with City law. Learn all there is to know about business signs.  Don’t miss it!

Please call if you need transportation assistance.     Mary Kiedrow 773-881-0622

Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce - City Council Update March 19, 2010

The following ordinance was introduced at the March 10, 2010 Meeting
Zoning Text Amendment - Landscape Requirements (Alderman Schulter) - This ordinance would amend the Zoning Code to extend the effective date of the requirements for many existing vehicular use areas to June 15, 2012. It would also amend the current fencing requirements for these vehicular use areas to only require fencing along the perimeter of vehicular use areas along those lot lines adjacent to public street right-of-ways. Further, it would extend the compliance deadline for fencing of vehicular use areas less than 30,000 square feet that are outside the Central Area to June 15, 2012. The Central Area is defined as that area bounded by North Avenue, Lake Michigan, Cermak Road, and Ashland Avenue. This matter was assigned to a Joint Committee of License & Zoning and is scheduled to be heard on April 12.

Newsletter Goes Green

Our free newsletter has been informing the community since 1998.    Sign up at our website, www.mglrc.com to receive future enewsletters & updates 

Available Properties  

3255W. 111th Street 825 sf @ $12 psf Newer windows, doors, awning, central air, electric.  Save $$ on utilities!

Ideas or Suggestions

We need and appreciate your suggestions. 

Call us at 773-881-0622 or email mglrc2000@wowway.com