DevCorp North What's Now: Rogers Park, Chicago

Know your Financial Institution Workshop

Please join DevCorp North for the 2006 Financial Institution Workshop

Thursday, June 15, 2006

from 8 to 10pm

7064 N. Clark Street

A light breakfast will be served.  Admission is free.

Learn about Rogers Park’s local financial institutions and the products and services they provide.  Representatives from several banks and financial institutions will be present to answer your questions.

For more information, contact DevCorp North at (773) 508-5885 or info@devcorpnorth.org.

You're invited to the Latin American Chamber of Commerce's 30th Annual Conference

Hispanic Entrepreneurship: "A Market Growth of Economic Proportions"

This year marks the LACC 30th anniversary and LACC is pleased to present a program dedicated to the growth of the Hispanic market. The 30th Annual Conference focuses on business financing, prospects for State contracts, labor law and an overall perspective of the economy.

Welcome reception:
Thursday, June 1st, 2006
6:30 - 8 p.m.
1 Chase Tower
21 S. Clark South Entrance
Chicago, IL 60603

Sponsored by: Chase

Registration breakfast:
Friday, June 2nd, 2006
8 - 9:15 a.m.
The Palmer House Hilton
17 E. Monroe Str
Chicago, IL 60603

Sponsored by: Seyfarth Shaw, LLP

"Making the Pieces Fit: Using SBA Guaranteed Loans to Finance your Business"
9:30 - 10:15 a.m.
Presenter:
Judith Roussel, District Director
US Small Business Administration

Moderator:
Francisco Menchaca, Vice President
Chase

"Opportunities with the Illinois Tollway's $5.3 Billion Congestion-Relief Program"
10:30 - 11:15 a.m.
Presenter:
Brian McPartlin, Acting Executive Director
Illinois State Toll Highway Authority

Moderator:
Pedro Cevallos-Candau, Executive Vice President
Primera Engineers, LTD

"Current Trends in Employment Law: Everything we Learned as Children"
11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Presenter:
Jeremy P. Sherman, Chairman Labor & Employment
Seyfarth Shaw, LLP

Moderator:
Christopher A. Garcia, Partner Labor & Employment
Seyfarth Shaw, LLP

Luncheon: "A Perspective on the State of the Economy"
12:30 - 1:45 p.m.
Keynote Speaker:
Michael H. Moskow, President & CEO
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

Moderator:
D. Lorenzo Padron, Director
Illinois Division of Banking
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation

For more information, call (773) 252-5211 or email: lacc@latinamericanchamberofcommerce.com.

Registration fee includes: reception, breakfast, lunch, and conference.

Individuals:
LACC Members: $95
Non-Members: $145
Table Sponsorships (10 persons per table):
LACC Members: $950
Non-Members: $1,250

Space is limited  - register now!

To register by phone, call (773)252-5211.

To register by mail, send registration form with a check to - 3512 W. Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

To register online, click here.

CHICAGO ARTISTS' MONTH - October 2006

Beyond Boundaries

Artists, Collectives, Galleries + Art Organizations:

You're invited to be a part of Chicago Artists' Month, 2006 - the 11th annual celebration of Chicago's dynamic visual arts community in October.

Chicago Artists' Month features exhibitions, art walks, open studios, demonstrations, panel discussions and more.  These events take place in museums, galleries, artists' studios and other spaces downtown and in over 40 Chicago neighborhoods.

Chicago Artists' Month is presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and nearly 200 program partners.  This year's theme, Beyond Boundaries, explores how artists reach beyond boundaries of geography, ethnicity, tradition, media or other perceived limitations through art, continually expanding their personal and artistic vision and horizons.  Use this theme as you plan your program.

To be part of the excitement, 1) plan a public program or event in October that features one or more Chicago-based artists and 2) fill out the online form at www.chicagoartistsmonth.org.

Submission deadline is Friday, May 14.  All accepted programs receive exhanced visibility through widely distributed promotional pieces, a website and a citywide promotional campaign.  . . at no cost to you!

Contact Cynthia Quick at cquick@cityofchicago.org with any questions.

Celebrate Clark Street Festival

SAVE THE DATE

DevCorp North, the Clark/Morse/Glenwood Special Service Area, the Clark Street Merchants Association and 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore are organizing the first “Celebrate Clark Street Festival.”  This event will be held on Sunday, June 25th from 12 to 8pm on Clark Street between Morse and Touhy.

We are looking for sponsors, food vendors, merchandise vendors and entertainment.  If you are interested in participating in the event, contact Rene Camargo at (773) 508-5885.

Role of a Special Service Area

What is a Special Service Area?

Special Service Areas (SSA) have been used for over 30 years nationwide as a funding tool primarily used to protect and promote neighborhood shopping districts.  An SSA allows for a property tax levy to underwrite special services in addition to those generally provided by local municipal government.  The SSA tax provides benefit as all funds are locally managed and can only be used for SSA services within the boundaries.

Why do we need a Special Service Area?

As the north side gateway to the City, Rogers Park is home to the second busiest transit hub in Chicago and has a diverse population. Howard Street Special Service Area #19 and Clark/Morse/Glenwood Special Service Area #24 provide programs and services to increase the neighborhood’s competitive edge.  The Street Special Service Areas were established to provide maintenance and beautification services, to coordinate promotional and advertising activities, and to provide security and other technical assistance to promote commercial and economic development.

In light of government funding cuts, the SSA's are filling the funding gaps and putting decision-making in local hands.

How is an Special Service Area held accountable?

When an SSA is approved in Chicago, a local SSA Commission is created.  The Mayor appoints local business and/or property owners to the Commission pending City Council confirmation.  These Commissioners provide local management and oversight by authorizing expenditures and evaluating program performance.  DevCorp North serves as the Sole Service Provider of these SSA's and streamlines management and administration of SSA programs.  DevCorp North is also accountable to the state of Illinois and the City of Chicago through annual certified audits and budget reviews.

For more information, contact DevCorp North at (773) 508-5885.

New banners on Clark Street

After much discussion about the branding of Clark Street, the Clark Street Merchants Association and the Clark/Morse/Glenwood Special Service Area Commissioners unanimously approved the street pole banner design for Clark Street.  The banner was created by graphic designer Liz Vogel, a Rogers Park resident and approved by the City of Chicago for the required permits.  Banner text is in both English and Spanish.   Banner installation was completed last week.  Drive down Clark Street to see the colorful display.

New banners for Morse Avenue and Glenwood Avenue will be displayed this Spring.  For more information, contact Rene Camargo at (773) 508-5885.

The New Chicago Clean Indoor Air Ordinance

On Monday, January 16, 2006, the new Chicago Clean Indoor Air Ordinance went into effect.  The ordinance, which was passed in December 2005, regulates smoking in and near the entrances to public buildings and enclosed workplaces and facilities.  It establishes an immediate prohibition on smoking in specified public facilities; provides an opportunity for owners of restaurants with bar areas and owners of bar/taverns to allow smoking until July 1, 2008; and exempts exclusively private residences, some hotel and motel sleeping rooms, retail tobacco stores and certain private clubs or lodges from regulation.

Today, smoking is prohibited in:
 All enclosed workplaces;
 All restaurants without a bar area;
 All restaurant areas more than 15 feet from the bar counter;
 Public places including government buildings, convention facilities, laundromats, public transportation facilities and shopping malls;
 Public restrooms, lobbies, reception areas, hallways and other common use areas in public buildings, apartment buildings and condominium buildings;
 Within 15 feet of the entrance to enclosed public places;
 Recreational areas including enclosed sports arenas, stadiums, swimming pools, ice and roller rinks, arcades and bowling alleys; and
 City government vehicles.

For more information or for sample copies of signs to post within your establishment visit the City's web site at www.cityofchicago.org/business affairs.  Signs are also available at DevCorp North, 1557 W. Howard Street.

Continue reading "The New Chicago Clean Indoor Air Ordinance"

Commercial Corridor Revitalization Plan Update

In the fall of 2004 DevCorp North began a process to develop a Commercial Corridor Revitalization Plan that reflects the community’s vision for Rogers Park and provides a clear framework to achieve that vision.  Working in partnership with the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission and consultants from the City Design Center at UIC, DevCorp North held three public meetings which drew over 200 local residents. 

By late-October of 2005 the City Design Center had developed a draft of the technical plan.  DevCorp North has since been working to develop implementation schedules and more detailed implementation plans.  We hope to have a draft of this document to the Steering Committee, a group of local residents that helped to lead the process, by early spring and share the final version with the community soon thereafter.

In the meantime, we began a campaign to actively recruit the types of businesses to Rogers Park that the community had called for in the public meetings and that the local market could support.  This included the development of a detailed market analysis of Rogers Park and two presentations of the findings to prospective business owners, hosted at local restaurants.  As a result of those meetings, two business partners are planning on opening an Italian restaurant in Jarvis Square.  More business attraction presentations will be scheduled for 2006.

SSA crews keeping the district walkable

Beginning at 3:30pm on Thursday afternoon, Mark Somen, DevCorp North’s Director of Maintenance, was out on the tractor doing his best to keep the sidewalks clear in spite of the fast-falling snow.  An estimated 1000+ pounds of salt was spread throughout the Howard Street and Clark/Morse/Glenwood Special Service Areas, as nearly 8” of snow blanketed the community. 

Before he finally went to bed last night around 11pm, Mark had covered the entire 7.1 mile route (3.5 miles of sidewalks on both sides of the street) three times with the plow.  Filling in where the tractor couldn’t reach, Clark/Morse/Glenwood SSA Manager Rene Camargo was out clearing Glenwood Avenue by shovel and snowblower.   

As of noon today (Friday), Mark had already plowed the sidewalks of the entire route twice, and Rene had cleared the same general area he worked on the night before.  The maintenance crew has been out with shovels in hand since early this morning, breaking up ice and clearing the way for pedestrians on Clark, Morse, Glenwood and Howard. 

The maintenance crews will be out on the streets with the snow plow in accumulations over 2" (anything less will damage the blades) and salting for any snow accumulations over 1".  Any merchants or property owners within the Special Service Area boundaries can call DevCorp North if they have any additional need for snow or ice removal.

Clark/Morse/Glenwood security patrol initiative

After reviewing the concerns of local merchants, the Clark/Morse/Glenwood SSA #24 sponsored a security patrol initiative for a 3-month trial period.  A brief analysis of the initiative describes the activities taken by the security patrols, overall crime trends and the results of a mercants survey. 

Overall 63% of the merchants surveyed said they felt safer or somewhat safer during the summer of 2005 versus the summer of 2004.  The SSA #24 commissioners are now using this information to evaluate their options for public safety initiatives in 2006.  For more information, click here.