Via the Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection

The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) brings important information including FREE workshops, legislative updates and information on the economy.  Please pass this information along to anyone you think might be interested.

WORKSHOPS:

April Free Business Workshops -- Visit our BACP City Hall office every Wednesday and Friday and attend free business workshops. You may  also register for our Small Business Certificate program which will provide you the basics of operating a business in Chicago. Don't miss it.  See the flyer or visit our website at www.cityofchicago.org/bacp

Business Works Seminars 2009 --  BACP had great success at the first Business Works Seminar at Olive Harvey College with nearly 200 in attendance.  Don't miss the next Business Works event scheduled June 25 at Truman College where government and business organizations will be on hand to assist business owners, they can attend free  workshops and network with other business owners. See the flyer or visit our website at www.cityofchicago.org/bacp

Consumers and the Economy --  BACP brings Chicago residents and consumers a new series of workshops "Consumers and the Economy: Protect your home, money and family".  The first workshop will take place at Douglas Park on April 29th.  At these events, you will learn to protect your home and get information about mortgage fraud, mortgage foreclosure and home repair fraud;  know how to protect your money and learn about debt repair, debt consolidation and credit fraud; and lastly, learn to protect your family by learning about consumer rights, get consumer tips and know how to report fraud.  See the flyer or visit our website at www.cityofchicago.org/bacp

OTHER WORKSHOPS:

Creative Arts Expo -- Saturday, April 4  10 AM - 4 PM at the Chicago Cultural Center Chicago's unique gathering of resources, services and expertise specifically for people in the arts  The Expo is free and brings the best of Chicago's cultural community together under one roof.

Worried About Foreclosure? - Get help from a trusted source, the City of Chicago's Borrower Outreach Days. Meet with lenders, credit counselors and more Saturday, April 18 at George Washington High School, 3535 E. 114th Street. To register call Department of Community Development at 312-742-1552.

City Treasurer Small Business Expo -- Expo will be held Friday, July 17  from 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the UIC Forum located at 725 West Roosevelt Road.  For more information visit www.chicagocitytreasurer.com

PROGRAMS/RESOURCES:

The Small Business Solution Station -- Starting in March, BACP's Small Business Solution Station program started providing free business planning and financial assistance at our City Hall office every Tuesday and Thursday.  Services are provided by notable agencies like SCORE, ACCION, JVS and more.  To learn more about the program please contact Anthony Bertuca at (312) 744-5506.

ECONOMY:

Federal Stimulus Coming to Chicago

Mayor Daley identifies $1 Billion in Federal Stimulus Package Projects coming to Chicago.  If you are interested in learning about the Federal Stimulus dollars coming to Chicago, please visit the City of Chicago American Recovery and Reinvestment Act website by visiting www.cityofchicago.org  or link to http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/special_pages/mayor_-_recovery_and.html

LEGISLATIVE:

Refuse Collection --Effective April 2009, private waste haulers servicing commercial and multi-unit buildings will be required to pay a fee per Dumpster/receptacle.  The Dumpster fee ordinance will charge private waste haulers to license every Dumpster they have within city limits. Over the coming days, specific information about this ordinance will be provided to each commercial hauler on the specifics of this program.  We will provide you information about how this ordinance will be impacting businesses that have commercial dumpsters.

Plastic Bag Ordinance --  Don't forget, this ordinance passed in 2008 requiring retail stores to establish an in-store recycling program.  Businesses must install plastic bag recycling bins and collect and recycle bags.  Effective December 11, 2008, all stores larger than 5,000 sq. ft must place visible and marked bins in the store and have reusable bags. For stores less than 5,000 sq. ft. these requirements begin March 11, 2009.  By May 11, 2009 stores larger than 5,000 sq. ft. must provide plastic bags that state "Please reuse or recycle at participating stores."  For stores with less than 5,000 sq. ft. thee requirements begin on September 11, 2009.  To download this ordinance visit our website at www.cityofchicago.org/bacp and go to business section, then Ordinances.

Repossessor License ordinance -- This ordinance passed City Council on October 8, 2008 and is effective May 5, 2009.   Repossessor engaged in the location, disposition, or recovery of collateral as authorized by the self-help provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code, 810 ILCS 5/1 et seq are required to obtain a City license from BACP.  To download this ordinance visit our website at  www.cityofchicago.org/bacp and go business section, then Ordinances.