Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Issue Requests for Proposals for the Neighborhood Business Network Program

Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Issue Requests for Proposals for the Neighborhood Business Network Program

The small business support program plays critical role in supporting the sustainability and growth of Chicago-based small businesses.

CHICAGO - Today, Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) issued three requests for proposals (RFPs) for the Neighborhood Business Network (NBN) Program. Under the RFP subcategories of business support, capital access and peer support, the City of Chicago will provide funding to nonprofit local business service organizations, such as economic development corporations and chambers of commerce. NBN delegate agencies will work alongside business service organizations and entrepreneurs to help start, grow and scale businesses in Chicago. Through trusted, no-cost hyper-local technical assistance, delegate agencies will connect business owners to critical resources, help them navigate government processes and provide guidance tailored to the needs of Chicago's diverse business communities. For more information, visit Chicago.gov/NBDC.

"A strong local economy relies on a strong small business ecosystem," said Mayor Brandon Johnson. "The Neighborhood Business Network Program delivers highly specialized business services that help entrepreneurs start, business owners grow or sustain their small businesses. I encourage organizations to apply to strengthen the collective capacity and effectiveness of this network."

"Chicago's small businesses are the foundation of thriving neighborhoods, and these requests for proposal ensure we are investing in the business service organizations that provide assistance and resources to current and aspiring business owners," said BACP Acting Commissioner Tiffany Brooks. "This long-standing program is designed to drive collaboration and promote equitable and inclusive growth across all Chicago's 77 neighborhoods."

The NBN program reimagines the long-standing BACP Neighborhood Business Development (NBDC) program to better leverage the ecosystem of business service organizations throughout Chicago. For the first time, under these RFPs, the terms of the program will be 5 years. As such, selected delegate agencies will be able to focus on delivering no-cost business programs and services. The program ensures alignment with the ever-evolving needs of Chicago's small business community. The RFPs seek qualified proposals to support the implementation and delivery of services under the following NBN Program subcategories:

• Business Support: provides entrepreneurs with ongoing, no-cost access to qualified expertise in critical business areas, including finance, operations, marketing, sales, business development, information technology, compliance, and human resources; and where appropriate, industry- relevant outreach and education.
• Capital Access: connects entrepreneurs with qualified capital providers that can deploy appropriate loan capital, while also providing financial education, individualized guidance, and capital-readiness support needed to help businesses obtain and manage financing successfully.
• Peer Support: serves as the capacity-building and coordination infrastructure for the City's network of business-serving organizations by designing, coordinating, and delivering a comprehensive peer support program.

Applications for these RFPs must be completed by Friday, November 6th, 2026, before 12:00 PM (CDT). Those interested in learning more about these opportunities can register for the combined virtual pre-submittal conference taking place on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 2:00 PM Central Time. The pre-submittal conference is optional but highly encouraged. For information about the RFPs and virtual pre-submittal conference, please visit Chicago.gov/NBDC.

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