Our organizations share a mission to build a strong, unified business environment; facilitate economic development; and strengthen community-all to nurture a diverse, vibrant, thriving, and strong Uptown.
| Website | https://exploreuptown.org |
| Address | 4619 N Broadway, Chicago, Illinois 60640 |
| Phone | (773) 878-1064 |
| info@exploreuptown.org | |
| Service area | Chicago |
| Serves | Small businesses / entrepreneurs |
Every service below comes with a passage taken word for word from the organisation's own website, and the link to the page that carries it. That is the directory's guarantee: nothing is published without its source.
The Uptown Chamber of Commerce is a 501(c)(6) membership association that has represented and promoted Uptown's business districts since 1923.
Uptown’s business association since 1923, the Uptown Chamber of Commerce is one of Chicago’s oldest Chambers of Commerce.
The Chamber hosts annual seminars and workshops covering topics such as small business financing, property tax assistance, tourism training, commercial leasing, and retail marketing.
The Uptown Chamber of Commerce plans and hosts several seminars and workshops each year.
The organizations guide businesses through permitting, licensing, and zoning processes for new businesses, expansions, and development proposals.
Uptown United & the Uptown Chamber of Commerce can guide you through these processes, offer feedback on your application, and connect you with the appropriate people to complete your project.
The Chamber helps businesses access small business grant and rebate programs available through the Uptown SSA and the City's Small Business Improvement Fund.
Our organization can help those looking for significant improvements, install a new sign, or enhance the property’s security system.
The Chamber advocates for member businesses on issues such as zoning changes and liquor licenses with local officials and government staff.
the Uptown Chamber of Commerce works with local officials and government staff to ensure a smooth and successful outcome.
The organizations offer a commercial property database plus demographic and spending data to help businesses find retail or office space.
Uptown United & Uptown Chamber of Commerce offer access to a database of commercial properties, demographic and spending data, along with local knowledge to help find the right fit for your business or organization.
Members have access to one-on-one business consulting and personal introductions and referrals from Chamber staff.
Assistance with SSA-funded and SBIF rebate programs One-on-one business consulting and referrals Business location assistance
The Chamber offers free notary service as part of its member business services and technical assistance.
One-on-one business consulting and referrals Business location assistance Free notary service
The Chamber provides neighborhood retail market and demographics data to member businesses.
Free notary service Neighborhood retail market and demographics data Access to commercial real estate database
The UBC, managed by Uptown United, provides free one-on-one business consultations covering licensing, permitting, funding, sector support, and digital marketing for new and existing businesses.
The Uptown Business Center (UBC) is managed by Uptown United, and supports new and existing business owners and entrepreneurs within the East-West boundaries of Lake Shore Drive to the Chicago River
UBC helps entrepreneurs choose and apply for the correct business license and meet zoning requirements.
Licensing Assistance: choosing and applying for the best license for your business, meeting zoning requirements, securing a liquor license, and more.
UBC assists businesses with applying for and renewing permits such as sidewalk cafes and sign permits.
Permitting Assistance: applying for and renewing sidewalk cafes, sign permits etc.
UBC helps businesses locate traditional and non-traditional financing, including grant and loan information and connections to local financial institutions.
Funding Resources: locating traditional and non-traditional financial resources including webinars, connections to local institutions, and the latest local and federal grant/loan information.
UBC connects businesses to industry-specific events, trainings, webinars, and networking opportunities.
Sector-Specific Support: industry events, trainings, webinars, networking opportunities.
UBC provides digital marketing assistance including social media planning, content creation, and Google Business Profile development.
Digital Marketing Assistance: digital storytelling, social media planning, content creation, google business profile development, and more.
A volunteer advisory council of local real estate, planning, and business experts that guides sustainable development and strategic planning in Uptown.
Uptown United’s Development Partners committee works to guide and encourage healthy and sustainable development in Uptown, as well as engaging in its own development projects and neighborhood planning.
Uptown United produces neighborhood demographic and spending data documents to help entrepreneurs and developers evaluate investing in Uptown.
Uptown United distilled neighborhood demographics, spending statistics, pedestrian and transit counts, and other important data in to handy one-page documents to assist entrepreneurs, developers, and organizations looking to open or invest in Uptown.
Uptown United is the Sole Service Provider that administers the Uptown SSA, a tax district funding business retention, marketing, and beautification programs.
SSAs are local tax districts that fund enhanced services and programs within a contiguous area.
SSA-funded crews provide seven-day-a-week street and sidewalk maintenance and litter abatement across more than 15 miles.
Uptown United partners with TERRACE to provide 7-days a week streetscape maintenance and litter abatement.
Uptown United facilitates mural and sculpture public art projects that convey the neighborhood's identity.
Uptown United facilitates public art projects that enliven our streetscape and highlight our unique, inclusive community.
Uptown United manages seasonal planting and maintenance of landscape containers and streetscape planters throughout the neighborhood.
Uptown United manages the seasonal planting, maintenance, and watering of more than fifty (50) landscape containers throughout the neighborhood
Provides SSA-funded grants to community events that demonstrate measurable benefit and foster growth in the neighborhood.
The Special Events Grant Program provides incentives in the form of a grant for community events that demonstrate a measurable benefit to the neighborhood
Provides financial assistance to businesses opening or expanding into vacant ground-floor commercial spaces in the SSA.
This program provides financial assistance to new or existing businesses opening a new location or expanding operations in a vacant ground-floor commercial space within the Uptown Special Service Area.
Uptown United partners with consultants to earn media placements promoting the neighborhood's local businesses.
Uptown United partners with consultants to earn media placements for our neighborhood.
Provides rebates for storefront and facade improvements to beautify and attract and retain businesses.
Uptown United’s Curb Appeal Rebate Program provides incentives via a rebate for physical improvements to storefronts and facades along the public way.
Uptown United manages street pole banner placements on more than 200 poles to brand the neighborhood and highlight events.
Banners beautify and brand the neighborhood and also provide an opportunity to highlight special events and seasons such as the Lunar New Year and Pride Month.
Uptown United maintains landscaping and infiltration planters along the Argyle Shared Street project.
Uptown United manages the maintenance of more than 4,500 square feet of landscaping in twenty (20) infiltration planters built by CDOT in 2016
Uptown United manages seasonal displays, lighting, and landscape containers built as part of the North Broadway Streetscape project.
Uptown United manages the installation, maintenance, and watering of seasonal displays in landscape containers as well as a community identifier and seasonal lighting
Uptown United conducts catalytic studies and planning activities to support small business and facilitate development.
Uptown United engages in many catalytic studies and neighborhood planning activities that help to support small business, facilitate development, educate the community, and improve quality of life for Uptown business owners and residents.
Provides rebate funding to help business and property owners improve security and safety.
Uptown United’s Security Rebate Program helps business and property owners who may be limited in their funding with the goal to improve the security and safety of not only their business or property but the public areas of Uptown as well.
Reimburses first-time applicants for the City of Chicago sidewalk cafe permit fee to encourage sidewalk cafes in Uptown.
This rebate will reimburse business owners the $600 City of Chicago sidewalk cafe permit for first-time applicants.
Offers rebates covering up to 50% of costs for emergency window boarding, film, and replacement for damaged storefronts.
The Emergency Storefront Rebate Program includes rebates for window boarding services, shatter resistant window film, and window replacement.
Uptown United coordinates a program allowing owners of historic-district-contributing buildings to purchase a customized building plaque.
Property or business owners in buildings that contribute to a historic district may purchase a plaque for their building, customized with the year built and architect.
Grants for free, outdoor, public events within the SSA that activate public spaces and support local businesses.
Any free, outdoor, public event hosted within the Uptown SSA boundaries may apply for a Community Event Grant.
A 2020-2023 Uptown United program that expanded outdoor dining and place-making for businesses along Argyle Street.
The Alfresco on Argyle program featured expanded dining and place-making, with use of the north and south parking lanes of Argyle Street between North Broadway and Sheridan Road from 2020-2023.
Uptown United partnered with SmithGroup to bring winterized canopies to outdoor dining plazas along Argyle Street.
Winter on Argyle was an Outdoor Plaza program which aimed to “winterize” outdoor dining areas with best practices and designs from the City of Chicago’s “Winter Design Challenge.”
The Uptown Chamber of Commerce serves as the primary voice for business and economic development in the Uptown neighborhood, connecting residents and visitors to local businesses through news, events, and resources.
As the primary voice for business and economic development in our neighborhood, Uptown United & the Uptown Chamber of Commerce are pleased to provide you with this website to connect you with news, events, resources, and a directory of local businesses and organizations
The Chamber sells and manages custom street pole banner sponsorships for member and non-member businesses, handling proofing, maintenance, permitting, and renewal reminders across 300+ poles in the neighborhood.
Uptown Chamber of Commerce offers you a new 24/7/365 promotional opportunity - custom light pole banners.
Businesses and organizations can become Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Patron annual sponsors, receiving year-round visibility, event recognition, tickets, and street pole banners in exchange for tiered sponsorship contributions.
Annual Sponsorship shows your commitment to the Uptown Community and provides your organization with benefits all year long!
The Chamber offers businesses event-specific sponsorship packages providing tabling/event presence, social media tags and mentions, and newsletter shout-outs at its signature events.
You can reach our 50,000+ event attendees annually at our various signature events!
The Chamber produces an annual printed and digital community guide promoting a local-first economic model and directing readers to Chamber member businesses across Uptown's sub-neighborhoods.
This is a tool for visitors and residents to discover more about the neighborhood and Chamber member businesses.
The Uptown Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Uptown United, serves as the primary voice for business and economic development in the Uptown neighborhood, connecting businesses to news, events, resources, and a directory of local businesses and organizations.
Uptown United & the Uptown Chamber of Commerce are pleased to provide you with this website to connect you with news, events, resources, and a directory of local businesses and organizations
Year-round, the Uptown Chamber and Uptown Business Center run free business-focused workshops and industry huddles/networking opportunities for businesses, non-profits, and community groups.
The Uptown Chamber and Uptown Business Center offer ongoing opportunities for businesses, non-profits, and community groups to learn through free business-focused workshops, and to connect through industry huddles and networking opportunities