2022 Annual Report

BERWYN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF

Vice President

Salvador Plascencia

Eddie Wilkowski

Dr. Olivia Lares

Libby Popovic

Tom Benson

Richard “Jousef” Mandragon

Pierre Monice

Diane Salemi

Salvador Figueroa

Dorothy Chiero

Mario Manfredini

Paul Macchione

President

Jamie Revell

Herman Vander Naald

Treasurer

David Hulseberg Executive Director

Andy Sotiropoulos Past President

David Hulseberg Executive Director

Sande Brennan Director of Operations & Special Events

Kendra Shaw Economic Development Manager

Claudia Thornton Chamber Manager

Paola Garibay Project Manager of Economic Development

Marcos Martinez Community Development Specialist

Michelle Valle-Flores Marketing Coordinator

Patrick Greenacre Marketing Manager

Rasheed Jones Accountant

Genesis Valencia Chamber Administrative Coordinator

Emily Block Specials Events Coordinator

Gary Director of Emotional Support

Vice President Secretary

Cesar Santoy

Welcome to the Berwyn Development Corporation’s 2022 Annual Report. As the Executive Director, I am excited to share the progress, metrics, and milestones that we achieved throughout the year.

2022 started off strong with the BDC directly helping more than 77 Berwyn businesses apply for the Back to Business Grant. These personalized advising sessions connected our small business owners with more than $2,170,000 of much-needed relief. We also saw more than $9.1 million in loans forgiven with the Payroll Protection Program and more than $730,203 committed to renovation projects in our three TIF districts through our Pay as You Go and Finish Line Grant programs. Together, these TIF funds leveraged more than $2.1 million in private investment.

Despite this influx of capital, the BDC recognized that the small business community needed additional financial support and educational resources in order to truly build resiliency and grow. In response, we launched two new projects in 2022. First, the BDC contributed $50,000 to the Berwyn Internship for Small Businesses (BISB). In partnership with Morton College, BISB provides work experience to students and equips Berwyn businesses with the necessary tools to succeed in the digital world. In less than one year, more than 10 local businesses have experienced elevated marketing in the form of a new website or enhanced social media content!

In addition to BISB, the BDC worked to better support Berwyn’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by opening the Berwyn Shops: A Homegrown Project. This retail incubator provided its 12 vendors with the resources needed to thrive in the local market: a mini storefront, tailored education, promotion, and ongoing resources. Throughout this 7-month inaugural season, our incredible vendors broke sales records, sold out events, secured new contracts, expanded their followings, and even represented the Shops across 15 news outlets and at 2 state conferences! We are so proud of them and cannot wait to see where they go next!

With the positive impact of the above programs inspiring us, I am happy to say that the BDC has already committed to releasing two more innovative resources in early 2023. In fact, our team has started promoting our newest marketing campaign, #HireBerwyn, in hopes of connecting our small businesses with on-the-job training opportunities and available human resources. The campaign’s landing page details the role of key stakeholders in the job market and features open positions at local employers.

In 2023, the BDC will also be collaborating with consultants to create a new economic development plan for the City of Berwyn. Funded by a $75,000 grant award to the BDC in 2022, this updated plan will allow us to better understand the current strengths and opportunities of the community, given the drastic market changes that the world experienced during the last few years.

Overall, I am so proud of the accomplishments we made and the partnerships we built in 2022. I look forward to continued dialogue and collaboration with our beloved Berwyn community in 2023!

Sincerely,

WORDS FROM BDC’S BOARD PRESIDENT

It’s hard to believe that we’ve completed another year of economic development and chamber services in Berwyn. When I look back on my first year as BDC Board President, I can say that I am truly proud of the BDC team and the Berwyn community! Our amazing small business owners and residents alike demonstrated incredible passion, dedication, and perseverance.

With the return of our full event season in 2022, we saw record-breaking attendance, increased media coverage, and expanded followings across our social media platforms. In fact, we gained more than 5,000 social media followers across our 7 accounts and more than 900 new email subscribers. Key events, such as the 30th anniversary of the Route 66 Car Show, also helped to drive more than 145,562 total visitors to our 4 websites.

Throughout our signature events and our new adventures, we strived to promote our local businesses and the City of Berwyn as a notable destination to visit and to call home. As a result, engagement with our activities deepened locally and expanded regionally. We aim to continue this momentum in 2023. For example, we will be seeking grant funding to enhance iconic features and signage along Historic Route 66. We will also be expanding the boundaries of our Revolving Loan Fund, offering non-traditional loans to businesses and commercial properties in Berwyn, Cicero, and North Riverside.

In short, it has been an honor serving the community and connecting businesses to resources. I hope you join me and look forward to 2023 with an even greater sense of excitement and opportunity. Keep an eye on our platforms for any and all exciting announcements!

Sincerely,

Diane Salemi

Dave Hulseberg

TIMELINE 2022

FEBRUARY

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Your BDC Membership + Marketing Opportunities!

JANUARY

BDC Renewal of the Finish Line Grant in the Harlem, Roosevelt, and Depot TIF Districts

Women in Business - Monthly Meeting

Berwyn Shops: Informational Session

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BDC Annual Meeting – Zoom

Publication of the BDC’s Annual Report

Approval of the Finish Line Grant maximum award increase

Tax Increment Financing Joint Review Board Meeting

BDC’s Nonprofit Roundtable Monthly Meeting Berwyn Shops Jury Selection and Vendor Review

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BDC’s Nonprofit Roundtable

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Women in Business Group - Monthly Meeting

Berwyn Shops Finalist Presentation Day/ Jury Day Presentation of the Tentative 2022 Events Schedule

APRIL

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Berwyn Shops Paint Day by Sherwin-Williams

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MARCH

Your BDC Membership + Marketing Opportunities!

BDC’s Nonprofit Roundtable

Women in Business Group - March Meeting Grand Opening Celebration at The Body Art Bar Business Corridor Roundtable: Depot District Publication of the Bi-Annual Berwyn Vacancy Report

Approval of the WhyBerwyn? Marketing Campaign Budget

MAY

• Coffee & Connections at Juice Vibe Bar

• Depot District Peer Sharing Event

Drywall 101 with Home Depot - Berwyn Shops Training Event

Financials 101 with WBDC – Berwyn Shops Training Event

BDC Women in Business Monthly Meeting

BDC’s Nonprofit Roundtable Monthly Meeting

Harlem/Cermak Business Corridor Roundtable

Grand Opening for National Home Mortgage Depot District Mini-Golf Pub Crawl

JUNE

Berwyn Shops Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Art in the Park – Berwyn Shops partnership with NBPD

Author Visit with 123 Andres – Berwyn Shops special event

Safety Training On Site – Berwyn Shops Training Event

BDC Women in Business Monthly Meeting

BDC’s Nonprofit Roundtable Monthly Meeting

Grand Re-Opening Celebration of La Lupita Restaurant

JULY

• Wallpaper 101 with Just Wallpaper –Berwyn Shops Training Event

• BDC Women in Business Monthly Meeting

• BDC’s Nonprofit Roundtable Monthly Meeting

• Roosevelt Rd Business Corridor Roundtable

Second Saturday – Berwyn Shops Event

BDC’s Nonprofit Roundtable Monthly Meeting

Central Berwyn Business Corridor Roundtable

Taste of Cermak 2022

Chamber Onboarding - Berwyn Shops Training

Second Saturday – Berwyn Shops Event

Kid’s Cookie Decorating Workshop – Berwyn Shops Event

Women in Business After Hours – Berwyn Shops Event

Author Visit: Araseli Rodriguez – Berwyn Shops Event

Zumba Class with W3Body – Berwyn Shops Event

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AUGUST

Coffee & Connections at Monse’s

Grand Re-Opening of Media Noche Cafe

Social Media & Marketing Internship

Informational Session

BDC’s Nonprofit Roundtable Monthly Meeting

BDC Women in Business Monthly Meeting

Business Corridor Roundtable: Ogden Ave

WeatherTech Route 66 Car Show

2 Month Recap – Berwyn Shops Event

Hiring/Payroll 101 – Berwyn Shops Training

Safety on Site – Berwyn Shops Training

Second Saturday – Berwyn Shops Event

Beauty Queens on Site – Berwyn Shops Event

Themed Weekends – Berwyn Shops Event

OCTOBER

• Source Grow Grant Informational Session

• Berwyn Business Corridor Roundtable

• BDC's Nonprofit Roundtable

• Depot District Inaugural - Bags, Beer, & BBQ Tournament

• Women in Business Group - October

• Grand Opening of Republic Bank

• Foodservice Sanitation Manager Certification Class

• After Hours at the Berwyn Shops

• Breast Cancer Awareness Event – Berwyn Shops Event

• Spoil Yourself Sunday – Berwyn Shops Event

• Second Saturday – Berwyn Shops Event

• Insurance 101 – Berwyn Shops Training

• Paint Your Own Earrings – Berwyn Shops Event

• Little Berwyn Shop of Horrors – Berwyn Shops Event Weekend

• Dia de los Muertos – Berwyn Shops Event Weekend

DECEMBER

• BDC Holiday After Hours 2022

• Cancer Center Check Presentation – Berwyn Shops Event

SEPTEMBER

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BDC’s Nonprofit Roundtable Monthly Meeting

Grand Opening Celebration of Baird & Warner

Berwyn’s Oktoberfest 2022 sponsored by BNSF Railway

BDC Women in Business Monthly Meeting

Business Corridor Roundtable: All Berwyn K Shulada Kermes Festival – Berwyn Shops Event

Second Saturday – Berwyn Shops Event

Professional Make Up Class by Date Nite –Berwyn Shops Event

Civic Series: Power of Language –Berwyn Shops Event

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ITIA 2022 Conference – Berwyn Shops Presentation

Marketing 101 – Berwyn Shops Training

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Philanthropic Grant Presentation for Irving Elementary

NOVEMBER

• Mid-Season Report Card Check-Ins – Berwyn Shops Event

• Holiday Kickoff & Second Saturday – Berwyn Shops Event

• Managing Finances & Insurance – Berwyn Shops Training

• Launch of Berwyn Shops 2023 Jury and Vendor Applications

• Vendor Information Session – Berwyn Shops Presentation

• Holiday Make Up Class – Berwyn Shops Event

• Protection Cauldron Workshop – Berwyn Shops Event

• 6-Month Recap Session – Berwyn Shops Event

• Google My Business Webinar

• BDC’s Nonprofit Roundtable

• Social Media Internship Celebration

• WIB After Hours at Seguin

• 2023 IAMMA Luncheon – Berwyn Shops Presentation

• Holiday Pop Up Market & Second Saturday – Berwyn Shops Event

• Letters to Santa and Toys for Toys Drive – Berwyn Shops Event

• Commercial Leases 101 – Berwyn Shops Training

• Vendor Information Session – Berwyn Shops Presentation

• Updated Revolving Loan Fund Plan Approved by EDA & BDC Board

• Toy Give-Away & Hot Chocolate Station –Berwyn Shops Event

• Business Financing Webinar

• What Does it Mean to Incorporate a Business Webinar

• 2022 Season of the Berwyn Shops Ended

BERWYN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF BERWYN

A. Business Attraction (New Business Prospects)

a. The BDC provided information to 84 new business prospects on land, buildings, demographics, labor force, housing, education, infrastructure, and other relevant information in 2022.

b. The BDC agreed to perform the following business attraction services to aid prospective businesses and developers:

i. BDC staff reviewed existing incentive programs to make recommendations and provide feedback from the development community. The BDC continued tracking feedback by way of commercial transfer stamps, business licenses, and building permit touches. This information is provided to the City of Berwyn by way of the Vacant Properties Report and Building Permit Report on a semi-annual basis.

1. The BDC continued to market the Finish Line Grant Program in Berwyn’s Roosevelt, Harlem, and Depot TIF Districts. In 2022, the BDC set aside $250,000.00 in the Roosevelt TIF, $250,000.00 in the Harlem TIF, and $150,000.00 to the Depot TIF.

a. The BDC committed $266,174.82 in Finish Line Grants to 11 projects in 2022, leveraging more than $841,891.27 in private capital investment.

b. The BDC committed $464,029.00 to 2 special TIF projects in 2022.

i. Berwyn Public Library crosswalk - $14,530.00

ii. Realty of Chicago, Pay as You Go - $449,499.00

B. Business Retention and Expansion (Existing Business Prospects)

a. The BDC retention program identified the needs of existing businesses in the following ways:

i. The BDC provided information over 14,362 times via email and phone to existing businesses on economic, demographic, or commercial real estate. The BDC also sent out 2 mailers to over 2,100 businesses. Some businesses were contacted with multiple touches, hence the large amount of retention information shared.

1. Through the outreach efforts in 2022, the BDC aimed to promote resiliency among start-ups and well-established businesses in the community. As such, the primary focus in all 4 quarters was sharing resources, such as the Back to Business Grant, Comcast RISE Grant, Source Grow Grant, Finish Line Grant, and tailored webinars, and private business advising sessions.

ii. The BDC updated information on Berwyn’s economic profile, including the available properties map, vacancy information, and sales tax data in our annual and quarterly reports. The BDC website was also updated to reflect changes in resources and policies from national, state, and local guidance.

iv. The BDC continued to maintain a database of all Berwyn businesses and work with the Permit Administrator to collect business licenses.

i. The BDC conducted 6 business corridor roundtables, 14 corridor walks, 10 informational sessions, 3 group advising sessions, and 3 pulse checks in 2022.

1. The roundtables included Depot District, Harlem/Cermak TIF District, Roosevelt Road, “Central Berwyn,” Ogden Avenue, and All Berwyn. The informational sessions covered topics such as the Berwyn Shops, Business Financial Basics, Marketing, and the Grow Grant.

A. Miscellaneous

c. The BDC operates the Commercial Loan and Microloan pools to assist community businesses with financing options.

i. The Economic Development Team successfully completed the Equitable Lending Leaders Program, a 6-month series of classes focused on loan outreach.

ii. In 2021, the BDC was awarded $2 million by the US Economic Development Administration to create the Berwyn Revolving Loan Fund. In Q4 of 2022, the BDC expanded the program’s boundaries to include Cicero and North Riverside.

d. In 2022, the BDC served as a Community Navigator with the Cook County Small Business Source, connecting businesses to financial resources, and providing free advising sessions to business owners. The BDC provided facilitated over 700 advising sessions and received $165,607.15 for their efforts.

e. On behalf of the BDC, Visit Oak Park was awarded the Route 66 Grant, receiving about $324,000.00. In Q3, these dollars were used to install public art – mural, muffler man, and mini spindle - along Ogden Ave. In Q4, the remaining funds were used to install 2 electrical vehicle charging stations and a wayfinding sign.

f. The BDC was awarded the RISE Grant in the amount of $75,000. These funds will be used to develop an economic recovery plan for the City of Berwyn in 2023.

g. In Q3, City Council requested administrative support for the Vacancy Ordinance. This ordinance requires owners of vacant properties to secure adequate insurance, submit redevelopment plans, and/or place the property on the market. The BDC will work closely with the City to implement the program in 2023.

Welcome to the Economic Development Corner, 2022 was marked by key changes and innovative projects in both the BDC and the Berwyn business community. Most saliently, Paola and Marcos joined the economic development team. With them, they brought fresh perspectives, vast knowledge, and endless creative ideas.

For example, in 2022, the econ team initiated a bilingual e-blast, created landing pages for available resources, and crafted tailored social media content focused on business top tips and the success stories of local entrepreneurs. Together, these marketing campaigns allowed us to better connect with our business owners and to share funding and educational opportunities in a more timely, consistent, and inclusive manner.

In addition to implementing elevated outreach methods, the BDC also worked diligently to ensure that our businesses had access to the resources they needed to succeed. Specifically, we conducted more than 14 corridor walks, hosted more than 60 informational sessions, and facilitated more than 700 one-on-one advising sessions. We also increased the maximum award for our own renovation grant to $50,000 and expanded our support for start-ups by launching a retail incubator.

When looking back at 2022, I am pleased to share that the team’s efforts paid off. We shared pertinent information with businesses more than 90,000 times, helping to establish the BDC as an informational hub in Berwyn and the surrounding suburbs. As a Community Navigator with Cook County, we also helped bring in more than $2.5 million in grant funding and $9.1 million in loan forgiveness to the Berwyn business community. Finally, we directly assisted more than 283 local business owners with the Source Grow Grant application.

Overall, we loved connecting with small business owners in 2022! We look forward to learning more about their stories, experiences, and goals in 2023!

Thank you,

Kendra Shaw Economic Development Manager

In 2022, the Berwyn City Council modified the Finish Line Grant program - a redevelopment grant administered by the BDC and available to business and commercial property owners across Berwyn’s TIF districts. Specifically, City Council approved a reworked tier structure, increasing the maximum grant award from $23,500 to $50,000. They also updated the list of eligible expenses, eliminating marketing dollars and adding interior buildouts for new businesses.

With these changes, the BDC committed $266,174.82 in Finish Line Grants to 11 projects, leveraging more than $841,891.27 in private capital investment. This means that every dollar spent using public grant dollars brought in an additional $3.16 investment into Berwyn.

Given the success of the program, the BDC has budgeted $650,000 for the Finish Line program in 2023. These dollars are earmarked for the Roosevelt, Harlem/Cermak, and Depot TIF Districts.

ANNUAL STATISTICS

COMMUNITY CHARACTERISTICS

Median Age

Median Household Income Median Home Value

Poverty Rate

Mean Travel Time to Work

Berwyn Illinois National Average 35.1 $62,785 $211,700 12.80% 32.5 Minutes

38.6 $69,187 $209,100 12.50% 27.9 Minutes

38.6 $65,712 $240,500 12.30% 25.5 Minutes

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY: United States Census Bureau, 2020 Census Data, IDES, & The City of Berwyn

BERWYN CHAMBER services

CONNECTING BERWYN BUSINESSES

Berwyn.net • (708) 749-6579 • claudiat@berwyn.net

Chamber Members,

Over 75 Chamber members participated in an exclusive opportunity to advertise in 3 of our annual Berwyn Magazine and Community Resource Guide publications that are mailed out to over 19,000 and 33,000 resident households and local businesses, respectively. Over 40 Chamber members took advantage of the BDC lamp post banner program in 2022 with 120 lamp post banners installed throughout the Berwyn area. Chamber members attended our monthly Nonprofit Roundtables, Women in Business monthly meetings, Coffee and Connections, Business After Hours and our Annual BDC Holiday party. The Berwyn Chamber celebrated over 10 Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting ceremonies for its members with coverage of their event in our Berwyn magazine and promotion on social media.

Some of the Chamber’s successful projects in 2022 include the Berwyn Internship for Small Businesses and #hireberwyn job resource page. The Berwyn Development Corporation in partnership with Morton College launched our Berwyn Internship for Small Businesses program. The BDC invested $50,000 into the internship program that provides work experience to students and prepares Berwyn Chamber businesses with the necessary tools to succeed in the digital world. We completed 2 sessions in 2022 resulting in enhanced marketing exposure with a new website or social media presence for more than 10 Chamber businesses. Students each received a $1800 stipend towards tuition at Morton College and Chamber businesses received a 1-year complimentary subscription to WIX website platform, $325 Value, once their website was Live on the internet. The #hireberwyn job resource page provides the connection of our local educators and students with our local businesses resulting in workforce success. The business resources provide employers with hireable candidates seeking employment, with some providing employer training reimbursement programs.

The Berwyn Chamber has retained the same number of Chamber members for 2022 with just under 300 businesses. Our goal for 2023 will be retaining our current Chamber members with more outreach, contacting new businesses to grow our membership, and continuing BISB. I am excited to share that our Chamber events will be enhanced and we will also be introducing educational seminars in 2023. Our goal will be to continue to support the changing needs of our business community while creating more opportunities to connect. I look forward to working with you all in 2023.

Thank you,

Claudia Thornton

Hello Berwyn, 2022 was truly a year of firsts and new beginnings. The BDC introduced the Berwyn Shops: A Homegrown Project and the Bag, Beer, and BBQ tournament and pub crawl. With these amazing new projects and a focus on improving our digital presence- I am excited to say that, in 2022, Berwyn.net reached over 100,000 visitors for the first time ever!

The WhyBerwyn campaign has continued to support and inform the Berwyn community with email blasts, blog posts, and social media. This year the WhyBerwyn website saw an increase of 12.5% in new visitors and our social media following has reached over 18,000 followers.

Each project at the BDC has their own unique challenges, markets, and opportunities. In 2022, the marketing focus was on improving content and delivery methods. This was done with multiple techniques, including dedicated emails and social media post for chamber, economic development, and special events. We also improved landing pages and targeted utilization of digital platforms (websites, social media, and email). With these tools, the organization has seen major increases of visitors and followers across all our websites, social media platforms, and emails. In 2022, we gained over 3k new followers on Facebook and over 2.5k followers on Instagram.

Along with improving our digital presence, the BDC produced 1 Community Resource Guide, 2 Berwyn Magazines, and 4 mailers. These publications and mailers supported local Berwyn business, shared community partner updates, introduced grants, and helped share information about the Berwyn Development Corporation.

In 2023, the BDC will continue to support the community and businesses of Berwyn by creating, sharing, and delivering engaging content to the community. 2022 was an amazing year and it helped to lay the groundwork for 2023. Thank you to everyone who supported the BDC in 2022 and I am very excited for 2023!

Best, Patrick Greenacre

THE BERWYN BEAT

The Berwyn Beat is a weekly email that is designed to keep residents of Berwyn informed and entertained. Every week The Berwyn Beat goes out to 1,500+ emails, and it highlights one of four topics; Family & Community Fun, Leisure & Entertainment, Food, and Community Members.

The Weekly E-Blast is an email that is designed to keep the Berwyn business community and BDC members informed. On a weekly basis the email goes out to about 1,200 email addresses and is filled with grant/loan information, upcoming events and dates, important safety guidelines, and business resources.