Make City —Manufacturing Incubator in Chicago

Make City is one of the nation’s oldest and largest manufacturing incubators — a 416,000-square-foot hub on Chicago’s Near West Side where small business owners, production startups, and creative manufacturers find the space, support, and community to build something real.

What Is Make City?

Make City is ICNC’s flagship manufacturing incubator in Chicago — a business community built specifically for the companies that make things. Founded with a federal grant in 1980 and housed in landmark Near West Side buildings dating to the 1890s, Make City is one of the first and largest manufacturing incubators in the United States. Today it is home to nearly 100 businesses across apparel, beauty, personal care, textiles, and creative services.

Unlike general-purpose startup accelerators, Make City is an industrial incubator designed for founders who need production space, freight logistics, and hands-on business support — not just a desk and a Wi-Fi password. It is a startup manufacturing hub where BIPOC-owned, women-owned, and West Side entrepreneurs are prioritized for tenancy.

Key offerings at a glance:
  • Flexible industrial and production spaces from 400 to 10,000 sq. ft.
  • 5 freight elevators and loading docks for shipping and receiving
  • 24/7 access with electronic key entry and on-site security
  • On-site small business development experts and one-on-one coaching
  • Workshops and government program introductions
  • Networking and social events connecting tenants across industries
  • Meeting rooms, co-working spaces, and private mailboxes
  • Lease terms flexible enough to accommodate growing businesses
Make City Welcome Photo

Make City By The Numbers

Since 2021, Make City has delivered measurable, documented outcomes for Chicago’s small business community — entrepreneurs hired staff, opened retail accounts, and scaled production in an incubator designed to support every stage of growth.
2,885+
Mentorship Hours
Coaching and one-on-one guidance delivered to tenants since 2021
361
Jobs Created
Over five years, supporting Chicago’s manufacturing and creative economy
95+
Active Tenants
Businesses across apparel, beauty, textiles, and creative services
416K
Square Feet
Industrial facility spanning historic Near West Side buildings
184
Workshops & Events
Connecting business owners with industry experts and peers since 2021
846
Businesses Supported
Guidance, mentorship, and business support delivered 2021–2024
46% of Make City businesses are women-owned and operated, collectively contributing 233 jobs created and retained on Chicago’s West Side.

Why Choose Make City — Benefits for Your Manufacturing Startup

Make City combines the infrastructure of a full-scale industrial facility with the programming and community of a purpose-built business incubator. For manufacturing founders in Chicago, that combination is difficult to find anywhere else in the market at an accessible price point.
Square ft Facility

Flexible & Customizable Industrial Spaces

Make City offers units ranging from 400 to 10,000 square feet — right-sized for a startup that needs room to test, iterate, and grow without committing to more space than the business can support. Tenants can customize their space substantially, including adding offices, bathrooms, and permanent fixtures, making it possible to build a purpose-fit production environment within a shared facility. As your business grows, flexible lease terms allow you to expand within the building rather than relocating.

On-Site Support & Mentorship

Every Make City tenant has direct access to on-site small business development experts who understand the specific challenges of manufacturing, production, and product-based businesses. This is not a referral to an outside resource — it is hands-on support from people in the building. Tenants also benefit from more than 4,360 hours of cumulative mentorship delivered through one-on-one coaching sessions, workshops, and introductions to government programs, grant opportunities, and financial guidance.

Freight-Ready Facilities & Logistics Access

Make City is built for businesses that move products. The facility includes 5 freight elevators and multiple loading docks that allow tenants to receive raw materials and ship finished goods without the logistical friction that plagues manufacturers in standard commercial spaces. For a production business, these are not amenities — they are operational requirements, and Make City has them built in.
Prime Location

Prime Chicago Near West Side Location

Make City sits in Chicago’s Near West Side, within the Kinzie Industrial Corridor — close to the Loop, accessible by CTA (Green Line, Damen bus), and connected to the regional highway network via I-290, I-55, and I-90/94. For businesses that depend on suppliers, distributors, and customers across the Chicago metro area, the location provides the logistical and professional access that drives long-term viability.

Stories from Make City Entrepreneurs

The most credible case for Make City comes from the entrepreneurs who built their businesses inside it. The testimonials below are drawn directly from current Make City tenants — makers, manufacturers, and founders who describe how access to the right space and the right community changed their businesses.
MAKE CITY TENANT — BEAUTY & PERSONAL CARE

"The space within Make City has provided me with a place to manufacture my skin and hair care products. Because I have the space, I was able to obtain a contract to sell my products in Whole Foods and Walmart."

Chatto Skin and Hair Care Products
Make City Tenant
MAKE CITY TENANT — APPAREL INDUSTRY

“Being part of the Make City community has been a huge asset to my business. As a growing company, the flexibility to move between spaces within the building has allowed me to scale thoughtfully without compromising operations. The front office staff and building maintenance team are consistently responsive and attentive, which makes day-to-day logistics smooth and stress-free. One of the unexpected joys of being here is the informal network that’s formed among tenants. I often run into neighbors and friends in the hallways, and it’s not uncommon for business advice or referrals to be exchanged on the spot. That kind of organic support is rare and incredibly valuable. I’ve recommended ICNC to multiple contacts in the apparel industry because it’s more than just a workspace — it’s a community that helps businesses grow.”

Digit Pattern Services
Make City Tenant
MAKE CITY TENANT — CREATIVE MANUFACTURING

“We would literally not be in business if it weren’t for ICNC and the services that ICNC offers. We would not have been able to afford a commercial space in the City of Chicago without the support of ICNC. Our business relies on us being a part of a community, and Make City has provided a space where we can connect with like-minded entrepreneurs and consumers.”

Federal Moto
Make City Tenant

How Make City Works — Process & Support

Becoming a Make City tenant is a straightforward process designed to match your business with the right space and support from day one. Here is what to expect from inquiry through your first year as a member of the community.
Make City — Onboarding Process
1
Submit an Inquiry
Complete the online inquiry form at industrialcouncil.com to share your business details, space needs, and timeline.
2
Schedule a Tour
ICNC’s team will connect with you to arrange an in-person tour of available units matched to your production and operational requirements.
3
Application & Review
Complete the tenant application and provide the requested documentation so ICNC can get to know you and your business better and conduct a formal review.
4
Tenant Acceptance
Accepted tenants complete lease documentation and coordinate move-in logistics with Make City’s on-site property management team.
5
Ongoing Support
From day one, tenants have access to business development advisors, workshops, government program introductions, and the Make City tenant community.
Spaces range from 400 to 10,000 sq. ft. and are available on flexible lease terms. Complete an inquiry form to begin the conversation.
custom

Available Spaces at Make City

Make City’s buildings offer flexible industrial units configurable for production, light manufacturing, creative services, personal care, apparel, and more. Spaces are customizable — tenants can add offices, bathrooms, and permanent improvements — and lease terms are designed to grow with your business.

Building amenities:
Available units vary. ICNC will match your business with the right space based on your production requirements, team size, and growth plans. Complete the inquiry form to begin.

Partner With Make City — Support Chicago Entrepreneurs

Partner with Make City
Make City’s work is sustained by the support of corporate partners, philanthropic funders, and community organizations that share ICNC’s commitment to equitable economic development on Chicago’s Near West Side. Partnership with Make City is an investment in Chicago’s manufacturing economy — documented, auditable, and directly tied to the jobs, businesses, and community outcomes described on this page.

Benefits of Make City partnership:

Ready to Grow Your Manufacturing Business?

Make City has supported more than 1,200 businesses over more than four decades. Whether you are a first-time founder looking for your first commercial space or a growing manufacturer ready to scale operations, Make City combines business support, community, and industrial infrastructure for where you are right now and where you are going.
Make City — CTA
Make City is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit incubator.
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