Exit Strategies

1871 exists to inspire, equip, and support founders, growth scalers and innovators building extraordinary businesses.

2112 is Chicago's creative industries business incubator, providing fertile ground for the development of businesses in the creative sector.

Advocates for Urban Agriculture (AUA) empowers urban growers to foster thriving communities through sustainable agriculture and equitable food systems. We envision a flourishing food system that promotes urban agriculture in the Chicago area as an integral part of community economic development, food security, environmental sustainability, and overall quality of life for the region, and in which practitioners, organizations, and residents can reap the benefits.

Bunker Labs is a national nonprofit organization with the mission of ensuring that the military-connected community has the network, tools, and opportunities they need to start successful ventures.

The Center for Creative Entrepreneurship empowers creatives at all levels with the knowledge, skills, and relationships necessary for business success.

Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF) provides flexible, affordable, and responsible financing and technical assistance for community stabilization and development efforts and initiatives that benefit low- to moderate-income neighborhoods, families, and individuals throughout metropolitan Chicagoland.

The Community Law Project helps to build, strengthen, and support community-based organizations and small businesses in Chicago’s low-income neighborhoods. We work with law firms to help nonprofits and small businesses spur equitable development.

ESDC will work with businesses to empower them to grow. It will also work to attract fast growing businesses by leveraging the community's assets: an ideal central location, rich in culture and arts, delicious food/restaurants, a close proximity to world class universities and medical district, in a Hubzone, with resources like TIF, SBIF, and Federal Empowerment programs. ESDC has served the Pilsen community on the Lower West Side of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois for over 40 years and hopes to add to its legacy.

We are the Chamber of Commerce in Garfield Park, a community-based organization focused on helping make the world around us a better, happier place. With the help of our tireless staff, we organize networking events, fundraisers, exciting community-building events, and in-depth training sessions for our volunteers.

Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation (GAGDC) works to foster and promote revitalization of low-to-moderate income communities that we serve using comprehensive community development strategies.

Greater Roseland Chamber of Commerce (GRCC) provides economic programs designed to educate aspiring entrepreneurs and existing businesses through economic programs designed to strengthen and enhance financial opportunities to grow their businesses.

Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) is a national program designed to help small- and medium-sized businesses in economically-distressed areas build capacity for sustainable growth in revenue, profitability, and employment.

The Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce is a broad community based organization designed to represent and help merchants and other business people in the community.

Harness the Insights of Loyola University Chicago: The Loyola Business Leadership Hub is your gateway to the best of academic thought and practical solutions. The hub cuts across disciplines to find the answers and connections you need to accelerate your business, while our specialized centers bring a deep understanding of your organization and its unique challenges.

mHUB is an innovation center. Our goal is help entrepreneurs and startups turn their ideas into prototypes, prototypes in products, and eventually turn those products into sustainable businesses.

Mox.E has state-of-the-art coworking facilities and business development opportunities. We are here to build a strong business-focused community that supports ethnic diversity and fosters the spirit of entrepreneurial collaboration for success.

Our mission is to provide the Northwest Side and Belmont Cragin with the tools and resources to preserve affordable housing, prevent displacement, and provide business development assistance to local small businesses. Nuestra misión es proporcionar a Northwest Side y Belmont Cragin las herramientas y los recursos para preservar viviendas asequibles, prevenir el desplazamiento y brindar asistencia para el desarrollo comercial a las pequeñas empresas locales.

Quad Communities Development Corporation (QCDC) promotes and celebrates commerce in Bronzeville by support, attracting and partnering with the local business community to grow and strengthen our eco-system. QCDC host business educational, networking and resource events, area-wide marketing campaigns, and provides one-on-one specialized support.

The Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce represents business in Rogers Park. We are volunteers who devote our time to preserving great local businesses and boosting Rogers Park business. MISSION STATEMENT: To provide leadership and representation in order to benefit the members operating businesses in the Rogers Park community. VISION STATEMENT: To guide businesses, service organizations, institutions, and individuals to establish new businesses and promote existing businesses within the Rogers Park community. To create and stimulate an orderly economic growth, thereby enriching Rogers Park's diverse community.

For more than a quarter century, we have helped entrepreneurs like you obtain the financing they need to realize their business dreams. We are a non-profit, small business lender that offers SBA 504 and SBA 7(a) Community Advantage loans, and we administer the City of Chicago’s Small Business Improvement Fund and Neighborhood Opportunity Fund grants.

The JEP is a network of independent lawyers who are committed to making quality legal services accessible and affordable for regular people. They charge set fees, offer unbundled options, and focus on their clients' needs.

The iCAN Collective is a coworking, business incubator and event space for diverse entrepreneurs in Chicago's South Loop.

The SBA is the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government. It empowers entrepreneurs with the support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover after a disaster.

The mission of the Washington Park Chamber of Commerce, NFP (WPCC) is to create and sustain economic opportunities in the Washington Park community that improves the quality of life for all of its residents, businesses, and institutions through advocacy, initiatives, and partnerships for community and economic development.

The Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) supports and accelerates business development and growth, targeting women and serving all diverse business owners, in order to strengthen their participation in, and impact on, the economy.