BMO is excited to present the BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program, in collaboration with Deloitte. Eight women-owned businesses will each receive a $10,000 grant to help grow their businesses while focusing on sustainability.

Please see below for an industry notice regarding the upcoming renewal requirement for licenses that were extended during the COVID-19 pandemic. As stated in the notice, all licenses issued by the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) under Title 4 or Title 9 of the Municipal Code of Chicago that were extended temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic will no longer be considered active after July 15, 2021. Impacted licenses with an expiration date between March 15, 2020, and June 15, 2021, that were extended during the pandemic must be renewed by July 15, 2021, to continue legal operations in Chicago.

The NAACP x BACARDI are working together to provide dedicated support to Black-owned businesses in the beverage alcohol service, sales, and hospitality industries. Backing the B.A.R. is an NAACP initiative that is awarding over $350,000 in acceleration grants, education, support, and entrepreneurship solutions for Black-owned bars, restaurants, nightclubs, lounges, liquor stores, and small businesses in the process of applying for a liquor license.

BACP is pleased to announce that their Small Business Center, located at 121 N. LaSalle St. Room 800, will reopen to the public for limited in-person consultations beginning Tuesday, July 6, 2021. In alignment with citywide policies, all members of the public will be required to wear a mask and maintain six feet of social distancing while at the Small Business Center. There are no exceptions – if you do not wear a mask you will be asked to leave their facilities.

Please be advised that effective today, July 1, 2021, the Chicago Minimum Wage has increased for all covered employees. The Minimum Wage has increased to either $14.00 or $15.00 per hour, depending on the number of workers at a business. For qualifying employers with 21 or more workers, the new Minimum Wage is now $15.00 per hour. For employers with four to 20 workers, the new Minimum Wage is $14.00.

The Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce our 2021 Marketing Mania Series. Marketing Mania is our 4-part educational workshop series designed with the small business owner in mind. This weekly series will provide you with the tools you need to create a marketing strategy for your business. Covering topics from social media strategies to Google analytics, this series will address both the strategic and tactical aspects of marketing your business.

For over a year, the City of Chicago has worked tirelessly to ensure that our small business community survives the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. Under Mayor Lightfoot’s leadership, the City has delivered a series of emergency measures to provide critical financial relief, remove unnecessary burdens and keep workers safe through a once-in-a-century crisis.

The statewide COVID-19 emergency health order expired Saturday, June 26th. For Chicago businesses, this means that all COVID-19 regulations are lifted effective June 26th. While most regulations were lifted when the City entered Phase 5 on June 11th, this means that the establishments with a Late Hour Liquor License will no longer need to have fully vaccinated customers only during late-night operations.

Initially launching the program with 15 grants, Jane Walker will now match the program and fund an additional 15 groundbreaking women-owned businesses through the end of the year. Together with a network of influential icons, businesses will be selected across Entertainment & Film, Music, Sports, Journalism, STEM, and Hospitality, all on their journey towards a monumental first. Each recipient will receive a $10K grant plus a one-year IFundWomen Annual Coaching Membership. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis through October 2021.

DishRoulette Kitchen understands the trying time the restaurant industry is facing.  As the third-largest employer in the nation, the restaurant industry is the backbone of our economy and should be the first to be “bailed out.” Unfortunately, that was not the case. Here at the DishRoulette Kitchen, we’ve listened to and supported our restaurant community as best as possible. A lot of us are hurting. But a lot of us are helping each other.