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Small Businesses Slow to Apply for $300K in Lawrence/Broadway TIF

By Adeshina Emmanuel | November 20, 2012 11:38am
 The Lawrence/Broadway TIF district includes 74 acres, mostly along West Lawrence Avenue, North Broadway and North Sheridan Road.
The Lawrence/Broadway TIF district includes 74 acres, mostly along West Lawrence Avenue, North Broadway and North Sheridan Road.
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City of Chicago

UPTOWN — Businesses in the Lawrence/Broadway tax increment finance district can get help from the city to remodel or repair their locations — but they only have until the end of the month to take advantage of an opportunity that no one has applied for yet.

The district has access to about $300,000 from the city's Small Business Improvement Fund, said Sara Dinges, aide to Ald. Harry Osterman (48th). Dinges said the current deadline to apply is Nov. 30, but added that the application process opens and closes periodically throughout the year.

Commercial and industrial properties in the district can use SBIF funds for anything from replacing doors, windows and floors to plumbing and electrical work, Dinges said, adding there have been no applicants since the latest window opened at the beginning of November.

"This is a kind of a slower time of the year for construction anyhow," she said. "A lot of people plan projects for spring and summer, so it might be related to that."

Somorcor, a non-profit community development organization, administers the SBIF program.

Applications can be found here.

For more information, interested business owners can call Dinges at the 48th Ward office at 773-784-5277.