Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) 101 Session + Lunch

Learn how you can secure funding for your business with the Clark/Montrose SBIF grant!

Join Wintrust Bank and SomerCor on Wednesday, August 5th for an informational webinar about the Clark/Montrose Small Business Improvement Fund!

The Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) is one of Chicago’s longest-running and most successful programs, helping to retain and expand small businesses in nearly every neighborhood. SBIF grants use local Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenue to reimburse businesses for permanent building repairs and upgrades. These grants can cover 30 to 90% percent of the cost of remodeling work, with a maximum of $150,000 for commercial properties and $250,000 for industrial properties. SBIF grants to not need to be repaid.

SBIF Grant applications for businesses in the Clark/Montrose TIF District open on August 1, 2026 and close August 30. Click here for more on the Clark/Montrose SBIF.

About the Clark/Montrose TIF

The Clark/Montrose TIF District is characterized by a retail corridor featuring mixed-use properties. This unique section of Clark Street connects Ravenswood, Uptown, and Andersonville. DPD has targeted over half of the 51-acre district for rehabilitation purposes, specifically for commercial, institutional and mixed-use properties along Clark. The TIF provides incentives for new construction projects that capitalize on the adjacent residential areas, and projects that preserve or rehabilitate historic or architecturally significant structures.

View the Clark/Montrose SBIF Map +

Other Clark/Montrose TIF priorities include job assistance to training and readiness programs, along with improvements to public right-of-ways, parks, and schools. The TIF has or will utilize a minimum of $7.3 million in public dollars to attract a minimum of $10 million in private investment.