Business Assistance
Small Business Resources
How We Can Help You
Local Business Incubators
Success and living the American Dream go hand-in-hand. For many, maybe even for you, that means starting your own business. If so, we hope that you will consider establishing your business in Granite City. Not only is Granite ideally located, with solid infrastructure and a low cost place to operate a business, but it is filled with kind faces and warm hearts that will cheer you on to success. To top that, the City’s Economic Development Department has adopted a new initiative to be more entrepreneur-friendly. Should you choose Granite for your small business, we will be in your corner, helping you to succeed.
Small Business Resources
♦ 10 Steps to Starting a Business
♦ Step-by-Step Guides to Business in Illinois
♦ Starting a Business in Illinois Handbook
♦ Free Patent Search
♦ How to Write a Business Plan
♦ Business Plan Template
♦ Business Development Guide
♦ Financing Your Business
♦ Small Business Finance Information♦ Illinois Loan Programs
♦ SBA Business Finance Programs
♦ SCORE Business Toolbox
♦ Illinois Small Business Assistance
♦ Women & Minority Business Assistance
♦ Important Phone Numbers
♦ Best of the Web - Small Business
♦ Small Business Insurance
♦ Small Business Accounting
♦ Business on Main
Favorite Small Business Websites
♦ www.myownbusiness.org
This site provides an excellent template for Business Plans, with detailed explanations and voice & word
testimonies for each section.
♦ www.entrepreneur.com
This site provides lots of information on subjects that support the
development of Small Businesses. It also includes a section on franchising.
♦ www.bplans.com
This site provides sample Business Plans that can be used as examples for Start-Up businesses.
♦ www.startupjournal.com
This site provides information on lots of small business subjects. This
site is operated by the Wall Street Journal.
♦ www.sba.gov
This site provides in-depth information for Small Businesses, including
minorities, disadvantaged, and women.
♦ www.womenbiz.gov
The gateway for women-owned businesses selling to the federal
government.
♦ www.score.org
This site includes on-line courses for starting a business, writing a
business plan, and other important information.
♦ www.business.illinois.gov
This is the State of Illinois’ Business Portal website. It contains a myriad of
information including everything from business start-up guides to forming
an exit strategy and everything in-between.
♦ www.commerce.state.il.us/dceo/
This is the website for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity. It is loaded with information regarding how the state can
assist your business.
♦ www.co.madison.il.us/CommunityDevelopment/
This site contains information regarding services and programs offered by
Madison County for local businesses.
♦ www.swida.org
This is the site for the Southwestern Illinois Development Authority, which
provides information on their financing and assistance programs for
businesses.
♦ www.isbda.org
This is the Illinois Small Business Development Association website. It is
full of valuable information for small businesses needing assistance.
♦ www.smallbusinessdictionary.com
Provides definitions of 2500 business terms.
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♦ Development Incentives Liaison
The Granite City Economic Development Department is here to help you find the assistance you need to start-up or expand your business. We will help you to work with County, State and Federal agencies to find the help you need.
♦ Expansion/Relocation Assistance
Are you looking for a building or site to start, expand or relocate a business in Granite City? If so, we can help you to find the spot that suits your needs.
♦ Permit Assistance
The Economic Development Department can assist your business to obtain all requisite permits & licenses needed for your business. Fast Track Permitting: On projects which produce significant revenue and employment benefits, the City will assign a ‘project manager’ to expedite permit approvals.
♦ Zoning Compliance Assistance
Have you found the perfect location, but it is improperly zoned for your needs? If so, we can help you apply for a zoning variance to petition the Council for a zoning change.
♦ Hiring Assistance
The Economic Development Department can assist your company in advertising available positions by helping interested employers to create a flyer, to be placed in the City Clerk & Building & Zoning Departments. Also, by working in partnership with Madison County, we can host a job fair for either individual companies or for multiple industries.
♦ The River’s Edge Enterprise Center
The Tri-City Regional Port District operates the only small business incubator in southwestern Illinois. Located in Granite City, the River’s Edge Enterprise Center serves small companies and business startups, by providing a host of amenities to tenants that help keep overhead costs to a minimum. Amenities include affordable black & white, and color copying, fax machine, postage meter, large-scale copies and use of laptops and projectors. Use of one of the Port District’s many conference rooms is always FREE! Attractive office suites are available for lease for as little as $5 per day.
One of the items that makes the River’s Edge Enterprise Center so unique in comparison to other small business incubators, is its location and ability to cater to office, as well as industrial tenants. Currently, the Enterprise Center has 13 office and three industrial “startups” on the property.
The Tri-City Regional Port District operates the Enterprise Center. Their professional staff can assist with many issues related to getting into business.
For further information, or to schedule an appointment, please contact Dennis Wilmsmeyer at (618) 877.8444.
♦ SIUE Biotechnology Laboratory Incubator
This 11,076 square foot incubator can house as many as twelve biology, chemistry or biochemical laboratories. These “wet labs” are available for lease to small plant and life science companies.
For further information, visit the SIUE University Park Website, or call the University Park main office at (618) 659.9300