September 2018 Edition

In This Issue:

Small Business Forum- Oct. 2
Nominations for Business of the Year Award

Village Sign Code Updates

Accelerate Your Business to the Next Level
Small Business Saturday, November 24th
Harper Business Solutions
Small Business Development Center

A Newsletter for The Business Community

The Community and Economic Development Department has initiated this Newsletter called "Business Matters" for our local business community.

The newsletter is electronic only, and includes information from the Village to help your businesses stay connected to Business New, upcoming networking events, grant or funding opportunities, and other issues of interest for growth and development. The newsletter is also posted on-line on the Village website. Has your business won an award? Is there business news you would like to share?

Please contact the Community and Economic Development Department at 630.823.5781 and we will be happy to include the information in the newsletter.

Small Business Forum:
Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Want to start or grow your business? Looking for tips to market or fund your business?

Businesses and Entrepreneurs are invited to attend our FREE third annual “Small Business Forum” on Tuesday, October 2, 2018 from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm to be held at the Education & Work Center (EWC).

The Village, in collaboration with the Women’s Business Development Center, ACCION, Education & Work Center, IL Small Business Development Center at College of DuPage, Elgin Community College, Harper College, the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Northwest Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will host the forum to help our area businesses.

The topics will be:

Starting and Growing your Business
Financing Your Business
Marketing Your Business
Expert Advice on the Do’s and Don’ts of Business

Two panelists will speak on each topic, followed by Questions and Answers. Several business resources will be available to talk one-on-one for details. Please contact the Community & Economic Development Department at 630-823-5779 for more information.

Nominations for Business of the Year Award

Have a favorite business in Hanover Park? Nominate them for this prestigious award! All residents and businesses are encouraged to nominate outstanding local businesses. If you are a business owner in Hanover Park, you can nominate your own business!

Nominations will be judged in several categories including:

Community Involvement
Excellence in Customer Service
Positive Image and Appearance

This award honors contributions made by businesses for our community. Members of the Village C.O.N.E.C.T Committee will conduct interviews of the nominated businesses and then evaluate to determine a winner. The winner will:

have their business license fee paid for next year.
receive an award at the Village’s 2019 Annual Community & Recognition Banquet.
be featured on the Village Facebook Page.
be featured in the Hanover Park Hi-Lighter Newsletter.
have their Exhibitor fee for the Local Business Expo waived.

Nominations can be submitted through the Village’s website at hpil.org or call the Community and Economic Development Department at (630) 823-5780.

Village Sign Code Update

On July 19, 2018 the Village Board approved an amendment to update the Village Sign Code. Copies of the new Ordinance can be found online here. Changes were made to a variety of regulations including Temporary Signs, Wall Signs on multi-tenant buildings, and calculation of the sign face size for Freestanding Signs. Questions? Contact Village Planner Ellen Weber at (630) 823-5779.

Accelerate your business to the Next Level

If your business is about 3 years old, and looking to grow, expand, engage your employees, increase innovation or needs business coaching, you can be a candidate for this FREE service.

The Village of Hanover Park is one of 5 communities sponsoring Next Level Northwest, a business accelerator program designed to assist “Stage II” businesses with professional, confidential coaching, mentoring and technical assistance to accelerate their business to the next level. To apply, please visit www.nextlevelnorthwest.org. Please contact Shubhra Govind, Director of Community and Economic Development, for any questions at (630) 823-5781 or sgovind@hpil.org. Staff will assist you prepare for the next “Pitch Night” for selection.

Information on additional resources are found on the Village website.

Small Business Saturday
November 24^th

Independent stores, often known as “mom and pop” stores provide local jobs and create the uniqueness only found in Hanover Park.

American Express is again promoting “Shop Local – Shop Small” with “Shop Small Saturday” which will be held November 24^th, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Plan events in your store and get listed on the American Express website. Find more information at: their website.

Harper Business Solutions

Want more information or training to effectively run your business? Harper Business Solutions can provide additional training when and where you need it the most. You can choose from four different areas of training to help improve your business including:

Management and Leadership;
Professional Staff/Development;
IT and Computer Skills; and
Specialized and Industrial.

To learn more, visit Harper College.

Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

Thinking about starting a new business or expanding an existing business? If you need assistance starting a new business or expanding an existing business, attend the FREE Small Business Forum on October 2, 2018 (see article above for more details). The Illinois SBDC at Harper College and the SBDC at College of DuPage are both great resources.

From an idea for a home-based business to an established company in need of capital to finance their next stage of growth, the team of business advisors at SBDC can work closely with you and provide solutions that work best for your business.

You can schedule a no cost appointment, register for workshops and classes, or register for a help desk on the Harper College website.

Questions? Please Contact the Community & Economic Development Department

SHUBHRA GOVIND, AICP

Director of Community and Economic Development

Email

630-823-5781

ELLEN WEBER

Village Planner