Business & Community Resources
Village of Skokie Business and Economic Development
Diversity, the hallmark of Skokie, is reflected not only in its demography, but also in its economic profile and economic development strategies. The Economic Development Division promotes a diverse and progressive economic development approach to make Skokie as one of the best places of its size to live and work. The Village is actively pursuing policies to attract high quality jobs, maintain and enhance its position as a major retail center in Chicagoland, create a more vibrant downtown, promote transit oriented development, and retain its manufacturing base. Primary functions of the Economic Development Division include:
- Coordinating special redevelopment programs throughout the Village’s business districts;
- Marketing available properties and development opportunities;
- Managing tax increment financing (TIF) districts and other development projects; and
- Disseminating economic and community data to developers, businesses, citizens and other interested parties.
Looking to open a business in Skokie? Use the Zoom Prospector link below to search for available commercial properties in Skokie. When you have noted properties of interest, contact Leslie Murphy at Skokie’s Economic Development Office for more information on the properties you have selected.
Zoom Prospector Commercial Property Search Tool for Skokie
Village of Skokie Community Development
The Community Development Department includes the Planning, Economic Development, Building and Zoning, and Property Standards Divisions and provides “one-stop-shopping” for the Village’s development needs.
Skokie Public Library Business Services
If you’re looking to start, manage, or grow a business, the Skokie Public Library can provide tools and support to help you get the job done.
Explanation of NEW Skokie Chamber 401(k) Affinity Program for Small Businesses
This affinity program is for all Chamber members and is facilitated by Hunken Ewing Financial Group and Lincoln Financial Group.
Paid Options
Catherine Johns, Ltd.
Personalized Coaching Programs and more.
773.688.8570
Catherine Johns Ltd. Directory Listing
Aerotek®
Aerotek® Inc. is a 40+ year high-quality staffing and workforce management solutions agency. With deep expertise in the manufacturing, logistics, construction, aviation and facility management industries, we partner with more than 14,000 clients and 200,000 light industrial and skilled trades contract employees every year. Our people-focused approach connects quality talent with meaningful work and continuous opportunities. Headquartered in Hanover, Md., Aerotek operates a unified network of over 250 offices across North America, with 7 offices in Illinois.
Aerotek is an operating company within Allegis Group, a global leader in talent solutions. For more information, please visit Aerotek.com or call 1-888-AEROTEK .
Contact: Tina Bustamante at 630.645.4512 or ybustamante@aerotek.com
Free Options
Skokie Chamber Job Board
Posting on the Job Board is FREE and easy! Simple log in to your Chamber Account, click Job Postings, click Add New Job Posting, fill out the form, and click submit. Once approved by the Chamber Office, your job will go live on our website! Free to all Chamber Members.
National Able Network, Inc.
Preparing Today’s Communities to Meet Tomorrow’s Challenges Through Education, Employment and Opportunity.
Evanston Public Library
1703 Orrington Ave., 3rd Floor, Evanston, IL 60201
312.994.4211
Jewish Vocational Services (JVS) is now a part of Jewish Child & Family Services (JCFS)
To Provide Help, Healing and Caring Services Infused with Jewish Values to Strengthen Lives in our Community.
5150 W. Golf Rd., Skokie, IL 60077
855.215.5237
Contact: Ramiz Farahmand, Business Services Representative, Career Services at 312.752.6071 or email ramizfarahmand@jcfs.org
Impact Behavioral Health Partners
The Employment Services Program at Impact assists participants in utilizing their existing skills and experience to find meaningful employment that places them on a path toward their individual goals.
Contact Abigail Valdez at (847) 903-0575 or avaldez@impactbehavioral.org to learn more.
Oakton Community College – Skokie & Des Plaines Campuses
Workforce Solutions
847.635.1447
Contact: Eilish McDFonagh-Hermer, Senior Manager of Workforce Solutions at 847.376.7759 or emcdonag@oakton.edu
http://www.collegecentral.com/oakton/ To post your help wanted ad for FREE
Niles Township School District 219
D219’s Education to Careers program invites local businesses and professionals to partner with our schools to provide meaningful career exploration experiences for our students.
7700 Gross Point Rd., Skokie, IL 60077
847.626.3000
https://www.niles-hs.k12.il.us/about-us/about-d219
Skokie Public Library
5215 Oakton St., Skokie, IL 60077
847.673.7774
https://skokielibrary.info/services/job-seekers/
Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)
Our mission is to strive for a workforce that reflects the growing diversity within the State of Illinois. A variety of employee backgrounds, perspectives, ideas, and experiences are crucial to our ability to most effectively serve the public. Bilingual skills are welcome! IDHS is comprised of more than 13,200 employees in offices statewide where at any given time, a variation of career opportunities may be available. This creates the potential for you to advance the mission of IDHS and serve the community in which you live.
Contact: Zhuya Yang, Bilingual Recruiter at zhuya.yang@illinois.gov or another representative on the IDHS Recruitment Team at DHS.Recruitment@illinois.gov
Learn more about DHS job opportunities at www.dhs.state.il.us/jobs, and/or sign up for one of our upcoming Recruitment Information Sessions through https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=80790 for more relevant job benefits and application tips insights.
Loyola University Chicago: Career Services Department
Student career advisors; job board for employers to post available positions within their company for FREE; partner with the university for career fairs, and additional opportunities.
Contact: James Cannon, Associate Director or Career Services at jconnon@luc.edu
Contact: Megan Sieberg, Career Advisor for the School of Nursing at msieberg@luc.edu
https://www.luc.edu/career/handshake
North Suburban Cook County American Job Center (AJC)
The largest, comprehensive AJC in the State of Illinois, offering employers assistance with recruitment, candidate referrals, training resources, internships, apprenticeships, layoff support and more.
Contact: Deb Lawrence, Business Services & Community Relations by filling out their online form here
https://www.northcookjobcenter.com/employers/
Illinois Job Link – Sponsored by the State of Illinois to support Employers and Prospective Workers
Looking for that perfect employee? IllinoisJobLink.com can help. Save searches, flag reviewed resumes, and connect with staff to find the talent you need.
IllinoisJobLink.com – IllinoisJobLink.com
Roll Call Chicagoland – Chicagoland’s Premier Veteran Network
Looking to hire or support veterans? Roll Call is a premier Employee Readiness program to support transitioning veterans while establishing themselves in professions with dedicated businesses.
YWCA Evanston / North Shore
The YWCA offers many training and community-oriented seminars and classes. Programs that provide vocational and basic technology skills to workers, including a web design and tech lab program, a culinary program, and more. Programs for employers aim to strengthen your Board of Directors, understanding racial inequality, events for nonprofits to further engage their community, and many more. Connect with the local YWCA to learn how they can support your search for quality and reliable employee candidates.
Contact: Tiffany McDowell, Directory of Equity Institute at tmcdowell@ywca-ens.org
What We Do – YWCA Evanston/North Shore (ywca-ens.org)
Barefoot Student
The job site for college students and graduate students. Students from all 195 different nations are encouraged to post their resumes for discovery. Employers around the world are encouraged to post their Help Wanted ad for free if they are seeking students and young adults for hire.
Contact: Jordan Lee at jordan@barefootstudents.com
BarefootStudent.com: Hire college students & grads
RefugeeOne
Hire a Refugee! Refugees arrive to the U.S. fully authorized to work and eager to provide for their families. Thank you for giving them an opportunity!
RefugeeOne will make your work easier by coordinating interviews, interpreting at on-the-job training, outfitting refugees with uniforms, and providing ongoing support to you as an employer.
Looking to Hire? RefugeeOne’s employment program can connect you to a large pool of fully-authorized job seekers with diverse skills, backgrounds and language abilities. We provide support through interviews, onboarding, and acculturation at no charge to you.
Email info@refugeeone.org for more details.
Contact: Peyton Ruble, Employment Program Manager at pruble@refugeeone.org; or Jani Alam, Employment Specialist at jalam@refugeeone.org for follow up on all partnerships.
Paid (with a Free) Option
Handshake Job Board
Handshake is the #1 college-to-career network. At least 10 colleges and universities within the Greater Chicagoland area have signed up to access their platform, including UIC, DePaul University and others. Post on their platform and have your lied to many college campuses and their student populations in the area. They have both a paid and free option to register with based on the available benefits that align with your goals.
Many large corporations take advantage of their service including: CVS, General Motors, Aflac, Nike, American Express, CDW, Mcdonalds, PayPal, Liberty Mutual, and many others.
Hire Students and Graduates | Handshake (joinhandshake.com)
From the Village of Skokie
Business Assistance and Incentive Programs
Rolling submission opportunities for brick & mortar businesses in the Village of Skokie. Incentives Include: The Facade Assistance Program for downtown Skokie merchants, Interior Improvements for downtown Skokie merchants, Storefront Enhancement Program for all Skokie businesses, Design Assistance for all Skokie businesses, Brokers Bonus Program for Real Estate Brokers and Restaurants, Parking Requirement Waiver for specific-zoned commercial buildings, and Village Incentive Process with matching escrow deposit/dispersion.
Contact: Len Becker at 847-933-8446 or e-mail len.becker@skokie.org
Business Assistance and Incentive Programs
Skokie’s Emerging / Start-Up Business Assistance Program
As of March, 2021, the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury established the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The Village of Skokie has allocated $325,000 in ARPA funding to assist Skokie-based emerging and start-up businesses (particularly, business owners who qualify as minority-owned or as low income) who have been negatively impacted by closures, revenue loss or disproportionate economic hardships in their growth or establishment due to the COVID-19 public health crisis.
Contact: Justin Malone, Neighborhood & Housing Coordinator at justin.malone@skokie.org
Walmart 501(c)3 Grant Opportunities
Walmart and Sam’s Club have available grants through their Local Community Grants program. Grants are honored and submitted on a quarterly basis. Areas of funding include: Community and Economic Development, Diversity and Inclusion, Education, Environmental Sustainability, Health and Human Service, Hunger Relief and Healthy Eating, Public Safety, and Quality of Life. Funding limits are between $250 – $5,000. All applicants must be CyberGrants FrontDoor verified. Please reach over all guidelines for eligibility.
Contact: Skokie Walmart General Manager, Aracelly Jarez, at asjerez.s01998.us@wal-mart.com
Local Community Grants (walmart.org)
Grants of up to $30K Available for Businesses Started During the Pandemic
Did you start a small business during the pandemic? You may be eligible for a grant of up to $30,000!
The State of Illinois has opened a new Illinois Back to Business Grant Program (B2B NewBiz) for small businesses that began operations between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021. The application window is open through January 11, 2024.
Learn more and apply for a grant at https://b2bnewbiz.com.
Relay Reserve Donations
Relay Reserve is a free-to-use internet service that connects small businesses with their customers through contributions. Take advantage of their SaaS fundraising software by installing an online feature to your website and email campaigns to solicit direct donations from supporters, customers, clients, friends, and allied businesses.
Contact: Peter Denenberg at 847-322-9845 or by email at pdenenberg@relayreserve.com
Local Government
Village of Skokie
Skokie Police Department Facebook Page
Niles Township
Cook County
State of Illinois
Wednesdays on the Green
Wednesdays on the Green Website
Wednesdays on the Green Facebook page
Skokie Park District
Skokie’s Backlot Bash
Skokie Festival of Cultures
Additional Resources
Better Business Bureau
Small Business Advocacy Council
SCORE North Chicago
Internal Revenue Services
Illinois Department of Public Health
Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
U.S. Small Business Administration
Cook County Department of Public Health
Illinois Chamber of Commerce
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
United State Department of Labor