Neighborhood Business Development Centers (NBDC)
Creating a thriving small business ecosystem in Chicago, which is vital to local job growth and a strong local economy.
The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection’s (BACP) Neighborhood Business Development Centers (NBDCs) play a critical role in fostering equitable small-business environments, in the communities they serve across the City of Chicago. The NBDC Program consists of over seventy (70) local business service organizations that provide no-cost hyper-local business development assistance to entrepreneurs and business owners throughout the city. On behalf of the City, NBDCs provide general business licensing and public way use permitting guidance as well as specialized support services based on their program type (i.e., Place-Based Business Specialist, and City-Wide Capital Specialist), which includes confidential 1-on-1 business advising, technical assistance, professional development workshops, access to capital, B2B networking, employment and workforce development assistance and more.
Learn how BACP Neighborhood Business Development Centers impact Chicago’s small business community.
For start-up entrepreneurs and current business owners interested in contacting a Neighborhood Business Development Center.
For BSOs interested in becoming Neighborhood Business Development Centers.
Information for Entrepreneurs and Current Business Owners
NBDCs have a strong neighborhood network and coordinate efforts with local aldermen, the City, and other community partners. Our NBDCs have specialized program types dedicated to assisting start-up entrepreneurs and current business owners during every phase of their journey.
They can help start-up entrepreneurs, and existing business owners, with:
- Information about a particular neighborhood
- Getting a new small business started
- Troubleshooting City-related issues for small businesses
- Connecting businesses to financial resources
- Business-to-business networking opportunities
- Employment and workforce development assistance
- Consumer marketing assistance
- Connecting your business to the local community
Find the Nearest Neighborhood Business Development Center(NBDC):
NBDC delegate agencies in the list and maps provided below.
- NBDC Program 2023 Grantees List (PDF)
- NBDC Program 2023 Grantees Map List by Community Area (PDF)
- NBDC Program 2023 Grantees Map List by Ward Precinct (PDF)
- Citywide Interactive NBDC Map
Information for Business Service Organizations (BSOs)
The City of Chicago, Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) provides funding to nonprofit (i.e., 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6)) business service organizations (BSOs) to deliver no-cost business development assistance to start-up entrepreneurs and business owners in Chicago, and/or professional/program development for their fellow BSOs, through its Neighborhood Business Development Centers (NBDC) program. Participants of the NBDC program, also known as NBDC grantees, deliver highly specialized business programs/services that help entrepreneurs start, and business owners grow or sustain their small businesses, as well as assist their NBDC Program peers to build their respective capacities.
Our application period is now OPEN.
RFP RESOURCES:
Neighborhood Business Development Program
To view this RFP, visit the City’s eProcurement website and search by RFP #10553.
Requests for Proposal submissions must be completed and submitted through iSupplier by Friday, November 8, 2024 at 12:00PM (Noon) CDT.
PRE-SUBMITTAL CONFERENCE
A virtual pre-submittal conference will be held on the following date:
October 15th, 2024, at 10:00 AM (Central Time). Click to Register.
The purpose of the pre-submitting event is to clarify the RFP process and the scope of the required services. Attendance is not mandatory, but it is strongly suggested the interested applicants attend. Questions can be emailed to NBDC@cityofchicago.orgCONTACT INFORMATION:
- Please send inquiries to: NBDC@cityofchicago.org
Our Neighborhood Business Development Centers offer several program types to deliver highly specialized business programs and services that help entrepreneurs start, business owners grow or sustain their small businesses, as well as assist their NBDC Program peers to build their respective capacities.
Place-Based Business Specialists will provide hyper-local business development assistance to small business owners and entrepreneurs in Chicago in their identified Focus Community Area(s) and/or Priority Corridors.
City-Wide Capital Specialists will provide city-wide access to capital services to small business owners and entrepreneurs in Chicago.
Provide training, professional development, and/or technical assistance to fellow NBDCs. Provide a platform for connection and collaboration to share best practices with the entire NBDC grantee ecosystem.