The Kedzie Elston Business Industrial Council

KEBIC Mission Statement

  The Kedzie / Elston Business & Industrial Council (KEBIC) has its service area  bordered by the Chicago river on the East, The Kennedy Express way on the West, Irving Pk. Road on the North and Diversey on the South, shall be a member based organization providing services to Industrial and Commercial / Retail Businesses and the larger residential and institutional community.

   KEBIC shall network between Industrial and Commercial / Retail Businesses, local government, law enforcement, schools, other public institutions and the community, working to provide stable, viable living and business opportunities through community planning and outreach, service provision, training and work force development, education to careers, job shadowing / mentoring and charitable events.

KEBIC GOALS

• Encourage and assist a balanced and vibrant business/industrial community in the Kennedy Industrial Corridor and the commercial businesses in the greater Kedzie/Elston area.

• Assist efforts to attract and maintain new and existing retail, commercial and cultural businesses and institutions.

• Act as the lead agency for the Irving Park Corridor community planning and development process.

• Institute a community planning process for Belmont Avenue in the 33rd Ward.

• Foster active relationships between businesses, local educational institutions and residents.

• Expand business contact with Education to Careers programs in local public high schools.

• Maintain effective communication between the 17th Police District and local businesses.

2005 KEBIC Members

KEBIC’s main focus

KEBIC’s main focus is the attraction & retention of Industrial and Commercial business, especially in the Kennedy Industrial Corridor, as well as in the surrounding communities in our service area.

We work with the City of Chicago Aldermanic offices of Richard F. Mell (33rd Ward) and Rey Colon (35th Ward), the Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Department of Planning and Development, especially the LIRI (Local Industrial Retention Initiative) Program to:

1. Assist firms looking to expand, consolidate or re-locate to our service area.
2. Provide assistance by locating available property.
3. Facilitate applications for such City programs as :
   • Façade Rebate
   • Infrastructure Assistance
   • Loading Zones
   • Graffiti Removal
4. Help broker financial assistance programs where appropriate.

• KEBIC will utilize its new 501c3 development corporation to access foundation grants to cover development and possibly capital costs for a variety of public use projects.
• KEBIC will continue to assist Concordia Lutheran Child Care and other area child and elder care providers to develop needs assessments with local companies, and help market new programs in the start up facility.

A final priority will be to continue to act a liaison between elected officials and area companies during area community beautification and development projects. Our local presence makes KEBIC uniquely suited to quickly respond to, and represent well, the needs of our local area companies.

• KEBIC Priorities for Business Development in 2004
• KEBIC will continue to lead efforts to explore multi-use options to maximize economic development potential for vacant industrial and commercial sites. (see below for vacancy list)
• KEBIC will continue to conduct monthly meetings to provide local companies with information on a variety of business related concerns and issues including but not limited to City of Chicago programs.
• KEBIC will visit local firms within and nearby our service area to solicit requests for assistance and help resolve other issues.
• KEBIC will maintain an up to date profile of industrial companies, including number of workers, SIC info, and contact person
• KEBIC will continue as business representative to the 17th Police District Advisory Council.
• KEBIC Priorities for Workforce Development in 2004

Working with firms on workforce related issues and concerns will continue to be another major priority for KEBIC in the coming year. 

• KEBIC will continue to act as a liaison for companies seeking worker training. 
• KEBIC will continue developing our Education to Career program with Roosevelt, Schurz, Lane Technical, Taft, and Von Stuben High Schools,  chairing and helping to find company representatives for each school’s respective Business Advisory Councils.
• KEBIC will assist the ETC Program Director in each school place students with companies for job shadowing, mentoring, internships, and paid part-time positions as well as find company  spokespersons willing to speak to ETC classes. 
• KEBIC will act as lead agency in the North West Side ETC Collaborative, working with other delegate agencies, both chambers and industrial councils, to link interested member companies with respective ETC programs.
• KEBIC will continue to expand our relationships with other area training providers, assisting Wright College Humboldt Park, Truman College, and DeVry Institute of Technology with outreach to companies in our service area, so companies can have the broadest exposure to candidates for new hires and training programs for incumbent workers. 
• KEBIC will also assist the above institutions develop relationships with area secondary and primary schools and facilitate collaboration between the different institutions in both ETC (Education To Career) and high tech /computer/ telecommunications programs.             
• KEBIC and the Chicago Public Schools

Our preliminary links with Taft High School will be strengthened and KEBIC will continue to assist all in placing students with companies for job shadowing, mentoring, and internships and part and full time paid positions.

• KEBIC and Other Area Training Providers
• KEBIC will continue to expand relationships with other area training providers, assisting Albany Park Community Center, Wright College Humboldt Park, Truman College, and DeVry Institute of Technology with outreach to area companies, so area companies can have the broadest exposure to candidates for new hires and training programs for incumbent workers.  
• KEBIC will also assist the above institutions to develop relationships with area secondary and primary schools, such as Murphy and Von Linnea Elementary Schools, to facilitate collaboration between the different institutions in both ETC (Education To Career) and high tech /computer/ telecommunications program. 
  

Active KEBIC Members Leveraged Community Resources:

KEBIC Volunteers assisted Roosevelt, Schurz and now Von Stuben High School’s Business Advisory Councils.

KEBIC companies provided opportunities for staff to interact with students in job shadowing, mentoring, and in visiting schools for class discussions.

Local banks led by KEBIC established local micro-loan program to be run through KEBIC.

Companies assisted KEBIC organization finances with membership dues,  and bought tickets and provided gifts for raffles.

KEBIC companies donated computer and office equipment and furniture  for office and school programs.

KEBIC companies donated office space, rent and utilities.