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Skokie's convenient
location is ideal for direct access
to suppliers and markets and an
experienced and well-trained labor
pool. The area's business economy
includes a highly diversified
manufacturing base and strong
retail, service, professional and
financial sectors. Some of the
country's finest educational
institutions and cultural and
entertainment attractions are
located in and near to the village.
The Village of Skokie boasts high
quality housing in a variety of
styles and price ranges. The
businesses and residents also enjoy
an abundant and reliable supply of
water, electricity, natural gas and
telecommunications services.
Skokie's industrial base is
comprised of over 400 prosperous,
well-managed companies; all defined
as clean, light industry. Careful
city planning and good enforcement
of zoning regulations have made it
possible for industrial expansion to
continue simultaneously with
adjacent areas where blocks of
beautiful homes have been
constructed with no conflicts
between the two.
The village is proud to have among
its industrial and manufacturing
family: *Rauland Borg, *CFM Harris
Systems, *Quartet Manufacturing,
*Welch Vacuum, Thomas Industries, *Kafko
International, *Wm. W. Meyer & Sons,
Inc, *Lambent Technologies Corp. and
*Georgia Nut Company to name a few.
* = This business is
a member of the Skokie Chamber of
Commerce.
Licenses & Permits
State
Illinois Department of
Professional Regulations
Assists in determining if a specific
business requires State licensing
(i.e. professional licenses are
given).
(312) 814-4500 Chicago
(217) 785-0800 Springfield
Illinois Secretary of State
Business Service Department
Provides materials necessary to
incorporate a business ("Articles of
Incorporation)
(312) 793-3380
County
Cook County Clerk's Office
Provides materials necessary to
register for sole proprietorships
and partnerships ("Assumed Name"-if
a company name is different from the
person's own full name, it must be
registered)
(312) 603-7528
Local
Village of Skokie License and Permit
Department Provides applications for
building permits, certificates of
occupancy, license fee schedules,
and request forms for final
inspections.
(847) 673-0500, Larry Anderson
Taxes
Federal
Employer Identification Number
(FEIN)
This federal taxpayer number is
required by the government at the
point when one becomes an employer.
Partnerships, corporations and
non-profit organizations also need
an FEIN number. Sole proprietorships
without employees may also obtain
and use an FEIN number instead of
their Social Security numbers on all
business forms that ask for a
"taxpayer identification number."
File IRS Form SS-4
(800) 829-3676, Form Distribution
Center (to request form)
(800) 829-1040, Internal Revenue
Service Tax Inquiry
State
Illinois Department of Revenue
All start-up businesses must
register with this department.
Information on income tax, sales
taxes, sales tax exemptions, real
estate taxes, and withholding taxes.
A Resale Certificate Number (allows
a business to sell a product without
collecting sales tax) must be
obtained if the business
manufactures a product and sells it
wholesale or if the business sells a
product purchased elsewhere.
A Retailer's Occupation Tax Number
must be obtained. This number allows
the business to purchase materials
without paying the sales tax and
sell retail, collecting the taxes
and remitting them to the
department.
(800) 732-8866, Taxpayers
Information, Springfield
(847) 294-4200, Taxpayers
Assistance, Des Plaines
(312) 814-5258, or 814-2620, Sales
Tax Division, Chicago
(312) 814-5232, Refund Assistance,
Chicago
(217) 782-3336, Taxpayers
Assistance, Springfield
(217) 524-4772, Business Hotline
Illinois Department of
Employment Security (IDES)
A business may be required to make
state unemployment contributions. A
business is generally liable for
such contributions if it has 1)
employed one or more workers in each
of 20 or more calendar weeks; or 2)
paid at least $1500 in total wages
during the calendar quarter.
(312) 793-4880, Employers Assistance
(217) 782-2790, Springfield
(800) 247-4984, Toll free number
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Through its Taxpayers Education
Division, the IRS offers
entrepreneurs monthly workshops to
provide new or prospective business
owners with current tax information
and instructions regarding
business-filing requirements.
(312) 566-3338
(800) 829-3676, Tax Form Ordering
(Tax forms are also available at the
Skokie Public Library & Skokie Post
Office)
Click here for a detailed tax
diagram. (You must have Adobe
Acrobat Reader to view this
information.)
You may contact the Village of
Skokie at 847-673-0500 for more
information regarding taxes in
Skokie.
Insurance
Every business (including businesses
operated out of a home) should
contact an insurance agent to
discuss business protection against
fire, robbery, vandalism and other
disasters. Personal and product
liability and business interruption
should also be checked.
Illinois Industrial Commission
Under the Workers' Compensation and
Workers' Occupational Diseases Acts,
an employer is required to provide
insurance for accidental deaths or
injuries or occupational diseases of
employees arising in the course of
employment.
(312) 814-6500
Illinois Insurance Hotline
A toll-free service from Illinois
insurance companies operated Monday
through Friday.
(800) 444-3338
National Council on Compensation
Insurance
Information and rates regarding
workers' compensation.
(800) 622-4123
Patents, Trademarks And Copyrights…
In some instances, protection is
needed for a product, service or
idea.
A patent document must be prepared
by a patent attorney and the
inventor, and then filed and
reviewed by the Patent Office.
A trademark is defined as any word,
name, symbol or device, or any
combination thereof adopted and used
by a manufacturer or merchant to
identify his goods and distinguish
them from those manufactured or sold
by others. Applications for
trademark registration is made to
the Commissioner of Patents and
Trademarks, Washington, D.C., 20231,
by the trademark owner or their
attorney. State of Illinois
registration can be filed with the
Office of the Secretary of State,
Index Division.
A copyright is a form of protection
to the author(s) of original works,
including literary, dramatic,
musical, artistic, sound recordings
and certain other intellectual
works. Application forms may be
obtained by writing the Copyright
Office, Library of Congress,
Washington, D.C., 20540.
(217) 782-7596, Illinois State
Library, Reference Desk
(312) 747-4300, Chicago Public
Library Information Desk
(217) 782-7017, Secretary of State,
Index Division
(800) 846-3228, Patent Information
(800) 786-9199, Trademark
Information
(202) 707-3000, Copyright Office,
Library of Congress
Technical & Financial Assistance…
A wide range of resources from both
public and private sector agencies
are available to Skokie businesses.
Over a dozen financial institutions
within the Village limits provide a
full line of banking services to
business clients.
The U.S. Small Business
Administration (SBA), Illinois
Department of Commerce and Community
Affairs (DCCA), and Cook
County Office of Planning and
Development, to name just a few,
can assist businesses by providing
loans or investments, or loan
guarantees. These and other
organizations or agencies may also
provide export financing and
assistance, technology assistance,
and management assistance to help
businesses start, grow, and thrive.
(312) 353-4528, SBA
(217) 782-7500, Illinois DCCA
(312) 603-1000, Cook County Office
of Planning and Development
*Small Business Development
Centers (SBDC) - offers general
business assistance; technical or
training resources; financing
opportunities; business education
and workshops; productivity
assessment; access to management
resources; marketing information;
assistance with financial analysis;
licensing information. The nearest
SBDC is in Evanston.
(847) 866-1817.
First Stop Business Information
Center - offers a detailed
handbook, "Starting a Business in
Illinois," that includes a
feasibility checklist and business
plan outline, as well as general
business regulations and issues
facing new business ventures.
(800) 252-2923
International Trade Centers/NAFTA
Opportunity Centers -
international market research data
to evaluate key overseas
opportunities; identification of
potential foreign buyers, agents
and/or distributors through trade
leads; information and training
programs on export procedures,
distribution, methods of payment and
foreign business practices; an
extensive collection of
international trade reference
materials; access to the IL DCCA
International Business Division.
(309) 677-3075
Procurement Technical Assistance
Centers (PTAC) - matching of the
firm's product, manufacturing or
service capabilities with major
military and civilian buying
agencies; providing assistance for
the completion of bidder application
forms; identifying defense and
civilian agency contracting
opportunities and providing
automated bid matches to Illinois
firms; providing specifications,
standards, bar coding, packaging and
other information needed to bid on
government contracts; electronic
commerce/electronic data interchange
training.
(773) 594-9562
Small Business Environmental
Assistance Program - a toll-free
Small Business Environmental
helpline to answer companies'
questions regarding environmental
compliance issues; a free
clearinghouse of over 300 easy to
understand environmental
publications which are sent to those
businesses making requests; speakers
on environmental issues for any
organization making a request.
(800) 252-3998
Service Corps of Retired
Executives (SCORE) - A resource
partner of the Small Business
Administration (SBA). An independent
federal agency, SBA offers
assistance on starting a small
business, SBA services and facts
about small business and business
data. SCORE volunteers refer
businesses to proper sources for
information and offer financial
assistance, advice and counseling.
(312) 353-7724, SCORE
(800) 827-5722, Answer Desk
The Skokie Chamber of Commerce
hosts SCORE counseling every two
weeks in the office by appointment
only. Please call 847-673-0240 for
an appointment.
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA)
Has a small business ombudsman that
helps firms comply with EPA
regulations, and acts as a
clearinghouse of information to
assist an individual or business.
(800) 368-5888
Illinois Development Finance
Authority (IDFA)
Offers a variety of funding
mechanisms to businesses and units
of local government within Illinois.
(312) 627-1434 Chicago
(217) 524-1567 Springfield
Illinois Small Business Growth
Corporation (ISBGC)
A statewide, not-for-profit
development company certified by the
Small Business Administration (SBA)
to provide below-market, long-term,
fixed-rate financing for fixed
assets to new and expanding
businesses.
(217) 522-2772
U.S. Department of Commerce (USDC),
Economic Development Administration
(EDA)
Provides financial aid and advice to
businesses that meet the twin
criteria of being economically
viable and being located within
targeted economically distressed
areas.
(312) 353-7706
National Association of Women
Business Owners
Sessions on growth strategies for
small & medium sized businesses,
including international business
opportunities and mergers and
acquisitions.
(309) 692-2225
Women's Business Development
Center
A non-profit women's business
resource center and assistance
program offering free counseling
service to women in business or
those starting a business.
(312) 853-3477
Illinois State Chamber of
Commerce (ISCC)
Conducts major statewide legislative
action programs for small businesses
and provides referral services to
small businesses seeking to fully
utilize state and federal resources
for training, financing, management
and investment. Gives new businesses
advice and answers questions on
compliance with state and federal
rules and regulations. Assists with
questions on wages, labor laws,
unemployment insurance and equal
opportunity.
(312) 983-7100
(800) 322-4722, Helpline
Illinois Retail Merchant
Association (IRMA)
Technical assistance and lobbying at
the state level particularly on
retail store operations, sales tax
and unemployment insurance issues.
"Small Store Survival Guide"
available to independent owners and
managers.
(312) 726-4600
(800) 572-5044
Illinois Manufacturers
Association (IMA)
Technical assistance and lobbying.
(630) 368-5300
(800) 482-0462
*Skokie Public Library
This library has one of the largest
collections of business information
resources in the north suburban
area. Information professionals are
ready to assist businesses, by
phone, e-mail or in person, in
finding the information they need to
grow and prosper. The library's
broad range of services include a
collection of business directories,
access to thousands of business
journals, state-of-the-art computer
database searching, info-FAX
service, telephone reference 9:00am
to 12:00am, library cards for Skokie
businesses, business videos and
cassettes, financial data and
background information on millions
of companies, career and employment
information, investment reports and
newsletters, industry surveys and
market analysis reports, trademark
and product information, and model
business letters, forms and
contracts, etc.
(847) 673-7774
Also contact the Skokie Chamber
of Commerce at (847) 673-0240 for a
current list of financial
institutions that offer a variety of
loans to small businesses for
start-up and expansion.
* = This business is a member of the
Skokie Chamber of Commerce.
International Trade Assistance…
U.S. Export Assistance Center -
U.S. Department of Commerce &
International Trade Administration
(312) 353-8040
(202) 377-3808, Washington D.C.
(800) 343-4300, Export Counseling
Center, Washington D.C.
U.S. Small Business
Administration
(312) 353-4528
(800) 827-5722
International Trade Center &
NAFTA Opportunity Center-North
Business and Industrial Council (NORBIC)
(773) 594-9292
Hong Kong Trade Development
Council
(212) 838-8688
Consulate General of Poland
(312) 642-4102
Job Training Assistance And
Employment…
State
Illinois Department of Human
Services (Public Aid)
A government welfare-to-work program
offering off-site contracted
training, education and placement
programs.
(800) 843-6154
Illinois Department of
Employment Security
Provides a number of services
including: unemployment, job
service, dislocated workers, labor
management, veterans services, Job
Training Partnership Act services
(312) 793-5700
Local
Jewish Vocational Service
(JVS)
An accredited, non-sectarian,
for-profit social service agency,
which provides comprehensive job
placement, vocational counseling,
rehabilitation, and skills training
services. JVS operates production
shops providing necessary labor
intensive secondary operations to
business and industry and bids
contracts in areas such as
packaging, assembling, labeling and
mailing.
*NTSW
A not-for-profit agency, NTSW fills
the needs for retired elderly to
remain productive by doing piecework
for local employers. Handicapped
young adults between the ages of
18-40 are helped to adjust to
competitive employment. NTSW's
rehabilitation program makes both
missions possible.
(847) 679-5610
*Oakton Community College-The
Business Institute
Offers programs on technical,
operational and leadership skills;
marketing and sales consultation and
development; organizational or
process development; international
trade options for defining and
meeting current opportunities;
training services in basic skills,
reading, math, English as a second
language, business competencies,
leadership/supervision skills, team
development, customer service,
marketing, sales, problem solving,
quality/technical, ISO 9000,
statistical process control,
hydraulics, pneumatics & controls,
blueprint reading, geometric
dimensioning & tolerancing,
programmable controllers, computer
skills, etc.
(847) 635-1932
Northeastern Illinois University
College of Business & Management
Offers a number of services to
businesses and other organizations.
NEIU faculty can be made available
to design and deliver in-house
courses ontopics related to their
academic and practical experience.
Similarly, faculty can conduct small
scale applied research projects on a
contractual basis (marketing
research, morale surveys,
manufacturing methods, etc.). The
college operates a student
internship program which allows
students to gain insights into
employment opportunities in several
business sectors while, at the same
time, allowing businesses to obtain
a "no obligation" look at potential
future employees.
(773) 442-6100
*Orchard Village
A vocational training program,
including a Transitional and a
Supportive Employment Program,
serving employers and
developmentally disabled adults in
Skokie, Niles and surrounding areas.
Clients may be trained to perform a
specific job for a participating
employer. Clients may be paid
according to their productivity.
Arrangements can be made for the
employer to receive Targeted Job Tax
Credits for hiring a disabled
worker.
(847) 967-1800
*The Workforce Development
Council
A non-profit organization
responsible for developing training
and employment programs to help
enhance the quality of the local
labor force in the north and
northwest suburbs of Cook County.
For business, the council provides
referrals of trained workers;
reimbursement for worker training;
assistance with placement of workers
being laid off due to plant closing
or mass layoff; tax credits and
customized training programs.
(847) 699-9040
Seniors Action Service
Welfare-to-work services.
(847) 864-7174
*Shore Training Center
Provides vocational adjustment
programs for disabled citizens. Some
of the services performed by the
center include custom packing, sales
kit assembly and packaging,
hand-bindery, hand-collating,
machine and hand-folding, stapling,
mailing service, soldering and much
more.
(847) 581-0200
Other
Incentives…
International Executive Service
Corps (IESC)
Offers volunteer counselors for
business and government in
developing countries.
(203) 967-6000
National Executive Service Corps (NRSC)
& Senior Career Planning & Placement
Service (SCPP)
NESC finds retirees in specialties
such as planning, marketing, and
fund-raising for non-profit
organizations. SCPP finds retired
executives for salaried posts.
(212) 529-6660
Skokie Industrial Development
Bond Program
If you are a Skokie industrial
company, or a prospective industry
considering a Skokie location, this
program can provide low cost
financing for those seeking to
expand or renovate existing
facilities, construct a new
building, or finance the purchase of
industrial real estate.
(847) 673-0500, Thomas Thompson,
Village Economic Development
Coordinator
Property Tax Incentives, Cook
County Assessors Office
These incentives are designed to
encourage industrial and commercial
development countywide, to stimulate
the revitalization of communities
suffering from economic stagnations,
and overall to maintain and increase
job opportunities (Class 6b, Class
6c, Class 7a/7b, Class 8, Class L).
(312) 603-7528
* = This business is a member of the
Skokie Chamber of Commerce.
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