CFACommercial Funding Advisory

Local Funding

Business Funding in Chicago, IL

Chicago's metro area has roughly 300,000 small businesses and a diversified economy that leans on manufacturing, food processing, logistics, and professional services. The city sits at the center of the U.S. freight rail network, which makes it a natural hub for distribution and warehousing operations. O'Hare International Airport generates billions in surrounding business activity. The South and West sides of the city have significant gaps in bank access, a problem that local CDFIs and the city's Small Business Improvement Fund have tried to address.

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300,000+

Small Businesses

$710 Billion

Metro GDP

12,500+

Manufacturing Firms

Top Industries

Key Industries Seeking Funding in Chicago

  • Restaurants
  • Logistics Companies
  • Staffing Agencies
  • Medical Practices
  • Contractors

Local Insights

Funding Landscape in Chicago

Chicago's SBA District Office serves all of northern Illinois and is one of the highest-volume offices in the Midwest
The City of Chicago operates a Small Business Improvement Fund that provides grants up to $150,000 for building improvements in TIF districts
Local CDFIs like Accion Chicago and the Chicago Community Loan Fund focus on micro and small business lending in underbanked neighborhoods
Manufacturing and food processing businesses in the metro frequently use SBA 504 loans for equipment and real estate purchases

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Business Funding in Other Cities

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