2023 Year in Review

2023 Was a Great Year for Development in Hanover Park!

Private sector investment – whether it was new construction or new businesses – saw remarkable progress for both – residential and commercial developments.  It is exciting to see reduced vacancies and new homes and businesses coming on line! Some examples include:

NWC Lake & Gary Avenue: The 216,000 sq ft warehouse building was completed and is now fully occupied.  Thornton's gas station is now open! It also awaits a restaurant space to be filled in the future.  

True North Energy/Shell Gas Station: The new 5,400 sq. ft. convenience store, fresh fast food, and gas station at Ontarioville and Lake St opened in November. Inside you would also find a Krispy Krunchy Chicken carryout restaurant in full operation.

Church & Lake Street: A plan for an 80-unit townhome development project has been approved. These modern-style units are proposed to be 2,200 sq ft, with 3 bedrooms and 2-car attached garages. Detailed plans are awaited before construction can begin in 2024.

Wise & Farmstead Townhomes: The 20-unit townhome project has been completed and all units have been sold and are occupied. A “Closeout Event” was held to celebrate the completion in November.

New Fire Station #16: Construction is underway for the new fire station at 2355 Schick Road – next to the Sonya Crawshaw library. The station is replacing the outdated station on County Farm Road, and is anticipated to open in the spring.

Cannabis Dispensary: A dispensary has been approved at 1166 Lake Street in the Caputo’s shopping center, in the space previously occupied by the Empire Beauty School.

New Homes: Several new homes were constructed in the area north of Lake Street and east of Center.  

New Family-friendly restaurants:  Several new restaurants have either opened or are about to open to serve our community! In keeping with the “America’s Global Village” theme, new restaurants include several ethnic cuisines.  Check out our list of dining options online!  For a list of all dining options in Hanover Park, go to https://www.hpil.org/DocumentCenter/View/3556/Dining-Options

_______________________________________________________________________

Restaurant Week in HP

March 8 - 18, 2024

Restaurant Week is a wonderful opportunity to promote your restaurant and celebrate local restaurants in your community!

If you are a Hanover Park restaurant, you are invited to participate in Hanover Park's very first annual Restaurant Week, scheduled for March 8-18, 2024. It's easy - just decide what type of food special(s) you would offer (buy one get one, free dessert/app with meal purchase, a % off entire bill, free drink with purchase, etc.). You can have just one special or a different special each day from the 8th - 18th. Send us a completed a participation form with your information, and that's it!

Across the United States, Restaurant Weeks have successfully generated increased revenues and new customers for participating restaurants. Restaurant Week in Hanover Park is designed to help our restaurants increase their revenues and gain new customers by encouraging the community to support their favorites, try something new, and above all, get a taste of Hanover Park, the Global Village!

It's as easy as registering online!

Please submit your participation form by Friday, February 2nd.

Contact Kathy Sjodin at ksjodin@hpil.org or by phone at (630) 823-5780 if you have any questions, or if you would like the form emailed to you.

 ______________________________________________________________________

Find a Business Mentor Through the SBA

The SBA's Resource Partner Mentorship

There’s a reason why 92% of Fortune 500 companies offer mentoring programs to their employees. Mentors improve employee retention and engagement. They can also positively impact a business’s financial goals. As National Mentoring Month, January is a great time for entrepreneurs—especially emerging small business owners—to consider connecting with a mentor. 

The SBA’s resource partner network is full of experts who can help guide you to small business success via training, access to funding, and more.

• SCORE Business Mentors. The proof is in the numbers: In 2022 alone, SCORE helped start 30,453 businesses and create a total of 112,570 jobs. SCORE’s network of volunteer experts is 10,000 strong, providing confidential, no-cost business resources and education services in all 50 U.S. states and territories. And they’ve been doing it for nearly 60 years. Entrepreneurs who partner with SCORE enjoy mentoring, webinars, workshops, a full library of online resources, and more. To request a mentor match, browse mentor profiles, or find your local SCORE chapter, visit score.org/find-mentor.
• Small Business Development Centers. High-quality, personalized advising, technical assistance, problem-solving support, and more can be found at Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs). With nearly 1,000 locations, SBDCs represent the most comprehensive small business network in the U.S.
• Veterans Business Outreach Centers. For service members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses interested in starting or growing a small business, Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs) are one-stop-shops. At 28 locations across the U.S., VBOCs provide business training, counseling, partner referrals, and program navigation.
• Women’s Business Centers. Representing a national network of more than 130 community-based centers, Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) help women entrepreneurs level the playing field. WBCs offer tailored services such as training, as well as assistance with contracting opportunities and access to credit and capital.
• SBA Resource Partner Events. The SBA regularly co-hosts events, many of which feature SBA resource partners. These events—often offered online, in-person, or through hybrid models—focus on a variety of topics and are excellent opportunities to link up with a potential mentor.

Start the new business year right by exploring your mentoring options! Search the SBA’s network of resource partners today.

_______________________________________________________________________