North Branch Works

What North Branch Works does

North Branch Works is a membership-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 1982 and headquartered at 2545 W Diversey Ave in Chicago, IL, that promotes balanced, job-creating economic development along the North Branch of the Chicago River. Across more than 40 years of operation, NBW has built a portfolio of interconnected programs including SBIF application assistance (helping businesses access City of Chicago reimbursable grants of up to $150,000 commercial / $250,000 industrial for building improvements), the Small Business Loan Fund, NBDC designation services, TIFWorks 50/50 employee training reimbursement administration, Local Industrial Retention Initiative (LIRI) coordination, the Small Accessible Repairs for Seniors (SARFS) program, Green Business Accelerator training with $2,500 grants, and a job board platform. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, led by Executive Director Jonathan Snyder with approximately five core program staff (Steve Simmons, Genevieve Cook, Misty LeBlanc, Mitchell Trachtenberg), and supplements capacity through COVID-era temporary hires and board-level volunteer leadership.

NBW serves small commercial, industrial, and manufacturing businesses across Chicago neighborhoods anchored on the North Branch corridor (Logan Square, Avondale, North Center, Goose Island, Albany Park), with secondary services for senior residents via SARFS. Designated by the City of Chicago's BACP as a Neighborhood Business Development Center and one of ten LIRI delegate agencies citywide, NBW operates as a regulated city-program delegate with preferential access to certain grants and workforce funding. Its customer base spans 780 businesses in the service area with annual touchpoints including 800 consultations and ~200 businesses directly served, channeling roughly $1 million per year in state and city grants to client firms.

Revenue is funded through a mix of city, state, and federal grants (BACP, CDOT, Department of Planning & Development), recurring membership fees paid by industrial and commercial members, tax-deductible donations, and event ticket revenue (e.g., $25 bike tour tickets). Services to business clients are delivered at no cost. Go-to-market is community-led: direct one-on-one technical assistance, events (Fall Fest, bike/boat/brewery tours, manufacturing summits), webinars, email newsletters, and partner referrals through banks (Wintrust), the SBIF administrator (SomerCor), developers (Sterling Bay), and city economic development entities (World Business Chicago). NBW has no proprietary technology platform beyond a WordPress website, job board, and event registration tooling.

Name

North Branch Works

Legal name

North Branch Works

Website

https://northbranchworks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

North Branch Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit economic development organization, founded in 1982 in Chicago, that provides grants assistance, low-interest loans, workforce training, and technical support to 780+ small and industrial businesses along the North Branch of the Chicago River corridor.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Management Consulting Services (54161), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI), Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Small business assistance
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Industrial corridor support
• Nonprofit business support

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Revenue from membership fees paid by small, industrial, and manufacturing businesses in the North Branch area. Members receive networking opportunities, access to training grants, SBIF assistance, and connections to city officials.
2. Government Grants: Grants from city agencies (BACP, CDOT, Department of Planning & Development), state agencies, and federal programs to support economic development initiatives, COVID-19 relief, and workforce development.
3. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations supporting economic development and small business support in the North Branch community.
4. Event Revenue: Ticket sales from events such as boat tours and bike tours that support the organization's mission. Bike tour tickets are $25 with proceeds supporting NBW's mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

North Branch Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit economic development intermediary that delivers free technical assistance, low-interest loans, grant navigation support, workforce training reimbursement administration, and community-building services to small, industrial, and manufacturing businesses in Chicago's North Branch corridor. Operationally, the organization administers City of Chicago programs such as the Neighborhood Business Development Center (NBDC), TIFWorks 50/50, and Local Industrial Retention Initiative (LIRI), and facilitates applications for SBIF grants and the Small Business Loan Fund.

Product overview

North Branch Works is a membership-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that for 40 years has promoted balanced, job-creating economic development along the North Branch of the Chicago River. The organization operates as a service-based nonprofit offering a portfolio of interconnected programs including a Small Business Loan Fund providing low-interest financing, SBIF assistance helping businesses access City of Chicago grants for building improvements, the Green Business Accelerator Program supporting green economy transitions, the Neighborhood Business Development Center (NBDC) designation providing comprehensive business support, TIFWorks workforce training programs, Local Industrial Retention Initiative (LIRI) services for industrial corridor companies, SARFS senior repair services, a Job Board platform, Real Estate Services, and a Membership and Networking program. These services work together to strengthen small, industrial, and manufacturing businesses through grants, loans, technical assistance, and community building.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Small Business Loan Fund Low-interest loan program administered by North Branch Works to fund building improvements and growth opportunities for small businesses in the North Branch service area.
• Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) Assistance Free technical assistance for businesses applying for and navigating the City of Chicago's SBIF program, which provides reimbursable grants for permanent building improvements up to $150,000 for commercial and $250,000 for industrial businesses.
• Green Business Accelerator Program Program delivered in partnership with Prosperity Now that builds capacity of business organizations to help companies transition into the green economy, including training and $2,500 grants for participating businesses.
• Neighborhood Business Development Center (NBDC) Services Designated NBDC services delivered for the City of Chicago's BACP, providing business support services, grant access, technical assistance, and growth opportunities for local small businesses.
• TIFWorks Program Administration Administration of the TIFWorks 50/50 employee training reimbursement program issued by the City of Chicago on behalf of property owners and tenant businesses in TIF districts.
• Local Industrial Retention Initiative (LIRI) Services Provision of economic development services to companies in designated industrial corridors, supporting manufacturing retention and growth through grants, city programs, and growth opportunities.
• Small Accessible Repairs for Seniors (SARFS) Program helping senior residents in the North Branch area remain in their homes by providing accessible home repairs.
• Job Board Online platform connecting job seekers with employers in the North Branch area.
• Real Estate Services Resources and guidance for businesses related to commercial real estate opportunities in the North Branch area.
• Membership and Networking Program Annual membership program offering networking opportunities, access to training grants, SBIF resources, and established relationships with city officials for member businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Helped bring in nearly $1 million in grants to businesses through state and city programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• World Business ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2025World Business Chicago was recognized as NBW's Partner of the Year in 2025 for their positive contributions to economic development in the North Branch.
• Sterling BaycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 October 2021Sterling Bay is a major developer in the North Branch area, building the ALLY at Lincoln Yards. They host NBW events including Fall Fest and partner on economic development initiatives.
• City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBW is designated as a Neighborhood Business Development Center (NBDC) by BACP. This partnership enables NBW to provide business support services, COVID-19 relief programs, and access to city resources for small businesses in their service area.
• SomerCorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSomerCor serves as the SBIF program administrator for the City of Chicago. NBW partners with SomerCor to help businesses navigate the SBIF application process, complete projects, and receive grant reimbursements.
• Wintrust BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWintrust Bank partners with NBW to host SBIF information sessions and discuss financing options for businesses participating in the SBIF program. They co-host events at their Logan Square location.
• Howe CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHowe Corporation is a member of NBW and a featured speaker at events, discussing workforce development funding and the importance of manufacturing in Chicago's economy.
• Local Industrial Retention Initiative (LIRI) AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBW is one of ten LIRI delegate agencies across Chicago that work to attract and retain manufacturing companies by connecting them with grants, city programs, and growth opportunities.
• Allies for Community BusinessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing low-interest business loans and resources for small businesses, featured in COVID-19 resources webinars.
• The HideoutminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Hideout is a beloved member bar and live music venue that hosts NBW events including Fall Gala. Tim and Katie Tuten serve on NBW's Board of Directors.
• IMECminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner mentioned in NBW's programs section for collaborative economic development initiatives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Allies for Community Business (A4CB): A4CB is a Chicago-based CDFI providing low-interest loans and business advisory to small businesses, particularly minority entrepreneurs. It is a current NBW partner (co-presented COVID-19 resources webinars) and targets an overlapping SMB customer base with similar technical assistance and capital access services.
• Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago: ICNC is a LIRI delegate agency serving the industrial corridor on Chicago's Near West Side. It shares NBW's exact model: small/industrial business support, SBIF facilitation, workforce development, and LIRI-funded economic development services for corridor manufacturers.
• Women's Business Development Center (WBDC): WBDC is a Chicago-based SBA Women's Business Center providing business training, lending facilitation, and economic development services to entrepreneurs. It operates an adjacent SMB support model to NBW, with overlapping customer segments (small businesses seeking grants and technical assistance).
• Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF): CCLF is a CDFI providing flexible financing and technical assistance to nonprofits and small businesses in underserved Chicago neighborhoods. It shares NBW's mission of capital access for community-based enterprises and shares a geographic overlap in Chicago's industrial corridors.

Broad incumbents

• Chicago Urban League: The Chicago Urban League is a long-established civil rights and economic empowerment organization that runs small business development programs, including training, technical assistance, and minority business support. It serves an overlapping minority/SMB customer base in Chicago with comparable program models.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Chicago: LISC Chicago is a regional office of the national CDFI supporting CDCs and small businesses across metropolitan Chicago. It serves as both a funder and peer-to NBW-type organizations, sharing the economic development mission at much greater scale and resources.
• World Business Chicago: World Business Chicago is a public-private partnership driving economic development across Chicago. It is a current NBW partner (2025 Partner of the Year recognition) and operates an overlapping economic development mandate citywide, though at much broader scale.

Others

• SomerCor: SomerCor is the City of Chicago's SBIF program administrator and a current NBW partner. It is ecosystem-adjacent rather than competitive — NBW helps businesses complete SBIF applications; SomerCor administers the grants — making it an enabling/partner peer rather than a direct competitor.

Regional players

• Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation: Bickerdike is a Chicago CDC focused on affordable housing and small business support on the Northwest Side of Chicago. While its primary focus is housing, it runs parallel community development programming (small business lending, grants, technical assistance) for a similar but geographically distinct constituency.
• Greater Auburn-Gresham Community Development Corporation: Auburn-Gresham CDC operates a community development model on Chicago's South Side similar to NBW's North Branch model — small business support, real estate development, and workforce programming within a defined neighborhood footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/northbranchworks
• Xx.com/nbranchworks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about North Branch Works