Local, State & Federal Assistance

The Village of Arlington Heights and its economic development partners offer numerous free and low-cost ways for businesses to promote themselves.  The following is a list of organizations and a quick summary of the resources that they provide.  We highly recommend reaching out to these entities if any of the resources that they provide are of interest.  These organizations all specifically exist to help the business community and are eager to share their services to help our businesses grow stronger.  Please feel free to reach out to me if I can be of any service or provide any additional information about these entities.

Michael Mertes
Business Development Manager
847-368-5220
[email protected]

• DiscoverArlington.com offers a free business directory and events listing
• Promotion of grand openings, ribbon cuttings, and special events via our social media
• Low-cost videos, which can be shown on our local cable access channel
• Contact: Michael Mertes, Business Development Manager ([email protected])

• Up to a $20,000 interest-free loan through the Village of Arlington Heights
• Can be used for interior improvements, purchase of equipment, and other tangible expenses
• Cannot be used towards employees or marketing
• Village will run credit check and need to place lien on private property to ensure repayment
• Can be repaid up to five years through quarterly invoices
• Contact: Michael Mertes, Business Development Manager ([email protected])

• All Arlington Heights businesses are entitled to as many as three free library cards
• Offers free seminars and access to trade journals
• Can provide you with free mailing lists for community outreach and promote your business
• Offers free one-on-one consulting regarding everything the Library offers to businesses
• Reserve meeting rooms or studio space
• Contact: Diane Malik ([email protected])

• Channel for non-traditional marketing opportunities to community residents
• Place ad in quarterly program guide (distributed to over 32,000 households)
• Advertise on scoreboards and/or sponsor youth teams
• Donate amenities at parks such as benches, picnic tables, and bike racks
• Sponsor and provide/distribute information at park kiosks
• Contact: Brian Meyer ([email protected])

• Opportunity to network with fellow business owners and promote your business
• Can host Business After-Hours events to promote your business to Chamber members
• Provides informative low-cost seminars regarding information valuable to business owners
• Can help you set up a booth for The Mane Event/Taste of Arlington Heights in August
• Can set up a meeting with you and a representative of SCORE, in order to get professional advice on how to grow your business
• Contact: Donna Knutson ([email protected])

• Convention and Visitors Bureau that provides free marketing for Arlington Heights restaurants and entertainment businesses
• Not a membership organization; free to utilize
• Hosts “Restaurant Week” every February to promote restaurants in the northwest suburbs (free to participate; simply need to donate gift cards and create prix fixe menus)
• Contact: Amy Walgren ([email protected])

• Government-funded business assistance center at Harper College
• Offers free one-on-one business consultation
• Can help you create or modify a business plan
• Offers low-cost seminars and webinars for how to grow your business and take advantage of existing technology
• Contact: Tom Cassell ([email protected])

• Not-for-profit organization supported by the SBA
• Former industry professionals volunteer their time to meet with working business owners, providing their experiences and expertise
• Allows you to have a free on-going relationship with a mentor
• Need to book an appointment; offered for free via the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce (twice a month on Monday mornings)
• Contact: SCORE North Cook and Lake Counties ([email protected])

• Funded by U.S. government
• Offers small business loans and free seminars/webinars
• Contact: Illinois District Office ([email protected])