Recent Awards

• “Outstanding Vision Award”, 2009, Superior Ambulance

• “Most Illinois Small Business Development Counseling Hours in IL Award”, 2008, IL DCEO

• “Innovation Award - Small Business Development”, 2007, ISBGDA

• “Program Excellence Award”, 2006,  ISBGDA

•  “Incubator of the Year”, 2006, National Business Incubator Association

• “Community Partnership Award”, 2005,  13th District Police

• “Green Communities Demonstration Program Award”, 2004, IEPA

• “Quality Job Development Award”, 2003, Community Workforce Employment Council

• “Community-Building Award”, 2003, Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards/LISC

2011 Accomplishments

Linked Kinzie Companies to Government Services & Grants

•Distributed $80,000 in Accelerator Grant funds to 27 area companies for technical/consulting assistance

•Completed over 250 service requests from local companies for assistance with potholes, loading zone signs, permits, zoning issues, parking, alley vacations, viaduct clearance,  business licenses, 6B and more

•Assisted companies in applying for City, State and Federal grants and programs

•Implemented area infrastructure requests working closely with Aldermen and City of Chicago

 

Provided and Subsidized Employee Training

•Received over $50,000 in state funding to reimburse eligible companies for 50% of employee training costs

•Provided Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training to Chicago working women, graduating our third class of EMTs in December of 2011 (currently testing for 2012 class to start in March)

•Trained over 300 individuals at our on-site Computer Center – classes in Excel 1, 2 and 3, Word, Power Point, QuickBooks, Adobe Photoshop, Website design, Outlook, SEO  and more

•Distributing $3,000 a month to low income program participants to assist with emergency expenses

 

Located & Assessed Qualified Job Candidates 

•Filled 75 positions for local employers – posted ads, sorted resumes, pre-assessed candidates, arranged interviews, tested finalists, conducted background checks and more. Trained 176 job seekers in soft skills

•Connected area employers with OJT grant offering 90% wage reimbursement for up to 6 months

•Assisted in placement of 40 hires at local medical center

 

Strengthened New & Emerging Businesses

•Provided 800+ hours of business consulting to over 200 small business owners and entrepreneurs

•Assisted in creating 80+ new jobs, retaining 285 jobs, securing $4 million in loans & $41 million in equity

•Dispersed loans to small companies with capital needs through ICNC’s in-house Revolving Loan Fund

•Arranged no-cost energy audits for building owners together with affordable loans for implementation

•Assisted companies in taking advantage of 4 new state programs totaling $78 million in capital investments

•Provided information on no or low cost services to companies including free legal services, training, etc

 

Assisted with Illinois Exporting

•Helped companies secure $7 million in exports to Canada, Mexico, Asia, Europe &  Latin America

• ICNC’s new International Trade Center provided more than 1,000 hours of free assistance in such areas as export strategy, foreign market selection, customs and tariffs analysis, and product export readiness

•Assisted companies in securing grant funding for trade shows and export related expenses

 

Advocated for Local Business Interests

•Advocated for streamlined City regulations for small companies including permit and inspection processes

•Hosted Aldermanic Business Committee hearing at ICNC on proposed “Green Certification Ordinance”

•Supported new programs and legislation which would lower health care rates for small employers

•Worked to increase police presence on Nearwest Side and advocated for retention of 13th Police District

•Served on WBC’s Economic Development Committee representing interests of small business

•Hosted US Treasury event announcing nationwide round of awards totaling $142 million for 155 CDFI’s

•Met with community leaders on behalf of our companies, including Senator Durbin, Aldermen Burnett, Fioretti, Maldonado, Maurino, Tunney and others,  Congressman Davis, State Senators and State reps and City officials such as DHED Commissioner Andrew Mooney and Zoning head Patti Scudiero, etc.

 

Received Media Coverage for ICNC & Companies

ICNC and its member companies were featured in the following media channels:

•NBC 5 Weekend News          •WCPT Radio

•WGN Radio                              •WLUP Radio

•WLFM Radio                           •WCIU-TV

 

Fulton-Carroll Center – Assisted Tenants & Maintained Financial Stability 

•Leased space to 37 new businesses and assisted in the expansion of 20 tenants  – current occupancy 97%

•Received over $625,000 in program grants & $2.75 million in building income

•Hosted “Third Thursday” networking events for incubator tenants and friends

 

Conducted 20+ Seminars & Workshops

•Human Resource Law                           • Search Engine Optimization

•International Trade – Exporting       •Halal Food Certification

•Marketing and Sales                               •Social Media & Marketing

•Intellectual Property                             •Finance & Grants

•Food Safety Certification                      •And many others

•Starting A Small Business

 

Held Enjoyable & Well Attended Social Events

•February Membership Luncheon at ICNC           •Monthly Incubator Tours

•Lakefront Boat Cruise                                                   •Holiday Party at Garfield Conservatory (12/15)

•Lead Breakfast Quarterly Meetings                        •Kinzie Women Business Owner event

•Monthly gatherings for ICNC tenants                    •Summer fundraiser at Galleria Marchetti

Thanks to our 2011 Funders & Supporters:

 

2010 Accomplishments

Provided and Subsidized Employee Training

• Delivered checks to 18 companies in 2010 for $57,150, reimbursing companies for eligible employee training costs (which includes most training except for sales and soft skills)
• Provided Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training to Chicago working women, graduating its second class of EMT’s in November of 2010 (currently testing for 2011 class to start in March)
• Trained over 300 individuals at our on-site Computer Center – classes in Excel 1, 2 and 3, Word, Power Point, QuickBooks, Adobe Photoshop, Website design, Outlook and more
• Distributing $3,000 a month to assist low income program participants in emergency situations

Located & Assessed Qualified Job Candidates

          •  Placed over 400 local job-seekers with area employers with wages paid for by the State for 6 months

•  Filled 65 positions for local employers

• Pre-interviewed 280 job seekers and arranged interviews with employers

• Placed 77 “Help Wanted” ads for companies and checked backgrounds of 57 new hires

• Recruited area residents (27th and 2nd Wards) for positions at Rush Medical Center

Strengthened New & Emerging Businesses

• Opened new ICNC International Trade Center to assist companies in expanding markets internationally

• ICNC’s Small Business Development Center assisted in creating 121 jobs, retaining 165 jobs, providing 1,234 hours of assistance to 216 companies, securing over $2 million in loans & almost $3 million in equity

• Distributed loans to local companies from ICNC’s in-house Revolving Loan Fund program

• Arranged no-cost energy audits for building owners to encourage energy savings and sustainability

Advocated for Local Business Interests

• Advocated for streamlined City regulations for small companies, including Shared Use Kitchens

• Worked with Community and City to commence construction of the new Morgan Green line L stop.

• Continued advocacy for 10% PMD preference for companies, Increased SBIF funding, energy savings, etc.

• Met with community leaders on behalf of our companies including Senator Durbin, Mayor Daley, Aldermen Burnett, Alderman Fioretti, Alderman Maldonado, Congressman Danny Davis, Anazette Collins, Art Turner & City officials such as Andrew Mooney, Patty Scudiero, Suzanne Malec-McKenna and others.

Received unprecedented Media Coverage for ICNC & Companies

ICNC and its member companies were featured in the following media channels:

• NBC 5  Weekend news – Nesita Kwan

• ABC 7 190 North Show – Janet Davies

• CBS 2 News – Suzanne LeMignot

• CBS 2 Someone You Should Know – Harry Porterfield

• WTTW-11 Chicago Tonight (Shared Kitchens)

• WCPT radio – Our Town Program

• WCPT radio – Local Jobs for Residents

• WLFM – Marketing of Kinzie Corridor

• Governor Quinn’s Press Conference

Fulton-Carroll Center – Assisted tenants & maintained financial stability

• Leased space to 27 new businesses and assisted in the expansion of 5 tenants

• Received over $600,000 in program grants & $2.5 million in building income

• Kept incubator leased at over 90% - Stayed under budget completed office renovation

Conducted 20+ Seminars & Workshops

•Human Resource Law	•Search Engine Optimization
•Workers Compensation	•Industry-specific Roundtables
•International Trade – Exporting	•Special Events Zoning
•Marketing and Sales	•Social Media
•Intellectual Property	•Spanish for Supervisors
•Starting A Small Business	•Finance & Grants
•Community Policing/Crime	•And many others

Held Enjoyable & Well Attended Social Events

• February Membership Luncheon at Coyne Institute

• Holiday Party at Garfield Park Conservatory

• Founders & ICNC Supports Event – Mart Anthony

• Open House for ICNC’s new offices on Damen Ave

• Mid-Summer Lakefront Boat Cruise

• Speed Networking Breakfasts

• Tenant Parties at ICNC’s FCC Incubator

• Kinzie Women Business Owner events & others …

 

2009 Accomplishments – ICNC

ICNC did fine in 2009 – Let’s do it again in 2010!

Linked Companies to City Services & Programs

• Completed over 200 service requests ranging from assisting with zoning, licensing and permitting to applying for incentives and grants

• Assisted Kinzie companies in applying for the first million dollars in SBIF (Small Business Infrastructure Fund). Currently, pushing for second SBIF round for the remaining one million.

• Together with the City and Alderman Burnett, completed or scheduled all infrastructure requests from Kinzie companies (those not completed are scheduled for completion this spring)

Provided and Subsidized Employee Training

• Delivered checks to 21 companies in 2009 for over $80,000, reimbursing companies for eligible employee training costs (which includes most training except for sales and soft skills)

• Provided Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training to Chicago working women, graduating its first class of 29 in November of 2009 (next class starting in March 2010)

• Trained 274 individuals at our on-site Computer Center – classes in Excel 1, 2 and 3, Word, Power Point, QuickBooks, Adobe Photoshop, Website design, Outlook and more

Located & Assessed Qualified Job Candidates

• Filled 78 positions for local employers

• Pre-interviewed over 250 job seekers and arranged interviews with employers

• Placed 80 “Help Wanted” ads for companies – online and in local papers (we paid, they didn’t)

• Checked the backgrounds of 50 new hires (again, at no cost)

• Recruited area residents (27th and 2nd Wards) for positions at Rush Medical Center

Strengthened New & Emerging Businesses

• ICNC’s Small Business Development Center assisted in creating 147 jobs, retaining 65 jobs, providing 1070 hours of assistance to companies, securing $1,816,534 in loans secured and $690,434 in equity

• Served on three BACP City subcommittees – Licensing, Education and Access to Capital

• Worked with NBC morning show to feature products and services of five member companies

• Restarted our in-house Revolving Loan Fund program with interest rates below prime

• Arranged energy audits to encourage energy savings and sustainability

Advocated for Local Business Interests

• Co-chaired Chicago Plan Commission’s “Reconnecting Neighborhoods Plan” which featured a new “Green Line Damen stop as a key recommendation.

• Assisted City of Chicago in trial which concluded with judgment on major issues favoring PMD protection and against “condos in the corridor”.

• Met with community leaders on behalf of our companies including Aldermen Burnett, Alderman Fioretti, Alderman Maldonado, Congressman Danny Davis, Commissioners – Chris Raguso, Patty Scudiero, Suzanne Malec-McKenna;  Anazette Collins, Art Turner among others.

• Assessed feasibility of new health plan option for Kinzie Corridor Companies

Marketed the Kinzie Corridor

• Partnered with WLFM (Smooth Jazz) radio station and received  $15,000 of bartered radio time to market the Kinzie Corridor and select ICNC programs

• Partnered with WCPT and obtained $30,000+ in free radio exposure for our “green companies”.

Maintained Financial Stability

• Received $693,000 from program grants and membership – 36% increase in grants over last year

• Increased revenues of ICNC’s FCC incubator over last year ($2,593,490 rent and misc income)

• Implemented a new staggered membership plan for new ICNC members

Supported 110 small business tenants in its FCC Incubator

• Welcomed 23 new small business tenants and assisted the expansion of 11 existing tenants

• Completed architectural and permit process for upcoming move to new office on Damen (June ‘10)

• Maintained occupancy over 90% throughout the year (currently 93%)

Conducted 20+ Seminars & Workshops

•E-mail marketing	•Search Engine Optimization
•Manufacturing Energy Tune Ups	•Industry-specific Roundtables
•Changes in HR Law	•Community Policing
•Marketing in a Tough Economy	•Biofuel Vehicle Expo
•Protecting your Intellectual Property	•Special Events Zoning
•How to Start A Small Business	•Spanish for Supervisors
•Workers Compensation	•Reinventing in a Recession

Held Second-to-None Social Events

• Summer Luncheon at Galleria Marchetti with Danny Davis,  Congressman, 7th District

• February Membership Luncheon at Resolution Studios with Acting Commissioner, Chris Raguso

• Kinzie Women Business Owners events at Amazing Edibles, SN Peck and ICNC

• Coalfire Pizza After Hours Party with WLFM

• Holiday Party at Garfield Park Conservatory

• September Lakefront & River Boat Cruise

•Speed Networking

• Tenant Parties at ICNC’s FCC Incubator & more …

 

Thanks to our 2010 Funders & Supporters: