West Chicago Offers Resources for New Entrepreneurs
The city of West Chicago is actively supporting new business ventures by offering a guide for entrepreneurs. The resource provides steps and information for establishing a new business in the suburban community.
- Beyond the online guide, West Chicago offers several direct financial incentives for businesses, including utility and sales tax rebates, property tax abatements, and waivers for building permit fees. - For retail and restaurant ventures in the Downtown Business District, the city provides a grant program offering a 50/50 matching reimbursement of up to $10,000 for eligible expenses like structural repairs, HVAC, and electrical systems. - To spur redevelopment, West Chicago established a new Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district in March 2022, covering 120 parcels in the downtown area. This TIF district helps finance improvements and redevelopment projects within its boundaries. - The city's 2026-2028 Economic Development Work Plan prioritizes revitalizing the downtown area by encouraging mixed-use and higher-density housing to support local businesses. - Manufacturing is a dominant industry in West Chicago, accounting for 25% of local jobs compared to just 11% in DuPage County overall. - Entrepreneurs in West Chicago can also access broader support through DuPage County, including resources from the Small Business Development Center at the College of DuPage, which offers assistance in management, marketing, and finance. - The median household income in West Chicago was $100,568 in 2023, reflecting an 8.92% increase from the previous year. - The city actively partners with the Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce, which operates the One-Stop-Operator for WorkNet DuPage to address local workforce and labor needs.
