Development Corporation 3Q Report 2025
Message from the Executive Director
Dear Berwyn Residents,
The third quarter marked continued growth and meaningful progress for the City of Berwyn. The Berwyn Development Corporation (BDC) remained steadfast in ful lling its contractual obligations while advancing initiatives that strengthen the city’s economic vitality and community engagement
Throughout the quarter, the BDC supported the opening of several new businesses, hosting ribbon-cutting ceremonies to highlight Berwyn’s expanding commercial landscape The organization also developed key informational resources to assist small businesses in navigating ICE-related challenges and produced marketing materials promoting local commerce, including the Berwyn Magazine Gift Guide.
The BDC continued to foster strategic partnerships to advance community development. Collaboration with the City of Berwyn, Cook County Land Bank, Berwyn Public Art Initiative, and other stakeholders marked the beginning of planning e orts for Berwyn’s new Arts Plaza. In addition, BDC worked alongside the Cook County Small Business Source to promote and assist applicants for the Catalyst Grant program.
This quarter also saw the completion of Godson’s Beer Garden, a project supported through the city's Finish Line Grant program administered by the BDC, as well as the successful hosting of Berwyn’s annual Oktoberfest, which drew more than 10,000 community members and visitors.
As Berwyn continues to transform, the BDC remains committed to driving sustainable economic growth, supporting local businesses, and enhancing the community’s overall quality of life.
Regards,
David Hulseberg BDC Executive Director/CEO
Thank you to our Board
Quarter three’s results re ect the collective energy of civic leaders, entrepreneurs, and residents. From ribbon cuttings to strategic partnerships, each initiative advanced our shared mission. The following pages provide a structured, visual overview of those accomplishments, ensuring stakeholders can quickly nd metrics, timelines, and outcomes that matter most.
Great things happen when our community and businesses work hand in hand. We’re thankful to our board for their passion, teamwork, and commitment to helping Berwyn grow. Together, we can keep building a stronger, more connected community where everyone thrives.
Quarter at a Glance
Milestones and moments across July, August, and September
The timeline below captures a season of connection classic car nights that drew visitors to Berwyn’s corridors, grand openings that signaled con dence in the local market, and workshops that seeded future projects Each touchpoint contributed to a vibrant commercial ecosystem
Timeline
July
Berwyn Cruise Nite – Ford Nite
Evanston Place maker Visit
Berwyn Cruise Nite - Customs Chamber After Hours, Output Business Roundtable, Ogden
August
Cruise Nites - Modern Marvels
Whimsy Way Play Café Grand Opening
Xurro Factory Grand Opening
Meeting with Astin African American Business Networking Association
Cruise Nites - Vintage Vroom Women in Business Business Roundtable
September
Berwyn Police Department Open House Oktoberfest
Business After Hours Culture and Communications
Berwyn Arts Plaza Community Workshop Godson’s Beer Garden Grand Opening
Events like Oktoberfest which welcomed more than 10,000 attendees, fed the local economy and showcased Berwyn’s cultural spirit Cruise Nite themes, from Ford classics to Modern Marvels, kept repeat visitation strong and spotlighted main street businesses. Meanwhile, placemaking visits, workshops, and roundtables, shaped long-term initiatives, such as the forthcoming Arts Plaza.
BDC Vice President Fabiola Avitia
Our Partnership Framework
The Berwyn Development Corporation’s (BDC) mission is to lead and promote those activities that support equitable economic growth for all community stakeholders in Berwyn. To ful ll this mission, the BDC entered a public-private partnership with the City of Berwyn to provide economic development and chamber services through the Berwyn community. The BDC focuses its e orts on activities that will improve the overall climate for local businesses and residents, as well as on promoting Berwyn as a business-friendly destination for existing and new-to-market businesses interested in expanding their operations in the City of Berwyn.
The goal of the Quarterly Report is to provide businesses, investors, residents, and all interested stakeholders with an overview of Berwyn’s evolving economy, while showcasing economic programs designed to support the expansion of local businesses and attract new businesses. The BDC collects and shares economic information on commercial real estate assessments, employment data, and demographic projections. The division also administers the City’s grant programs that support new community initiatives, property
improvements, and educational enhancements.
In practice, this framework translates into three service pillars: expanding local businesses, attracting new-to-market businesses, and building robust partnerships for entrepreneurial education. Each pillar aligns with data-driven outreach and equitable access to resources The subsequent sections summarize activities and outcomes within these pillars for Q3 2025.
Placemaker Forum
Business Growth Engine
Expansion of local businesses in Q3 2025
The Economic Development Division promotes the growth of local businesses through various initiatives, including direct sta assistance and strategic partnerships that o er an entrepreneurial support system, access to dependable market data, promotional opportunities, business education events, and grant programs.
Advisory sessions focused on topics such as permitting, marketing, hiring, vendor management, and nancing. By integrating referrals to regional partners, BDC ensured businesses could bene t from specialized expertise without losing momentum The result was a practical, wraparound support model for owners at di erent stages from rst-time founders to established operators planning improvements.
New-to-Market Business Attraction
Welcome to Berwyn! The Berwyn Development Corporation meets with businesses from across the region to help them establish operations in Berwyn. The division generates targeted leads through business outreach e orts via a network of stakeholders and partners, as well as through a wide range of promotions in collaboration
with the City of Berwyn, Cook County, and other community partners.
Attraction e orts highlighted Berwyn’s accessible corridors, talent base, and supportive grant and loan programs Ribbon cuttings and press placements ampli ed momentum, while data briefs simpli ed the decision process for prospects comparing multiple locations.
Business Development Partnerships and Entrepreneurial Education
The Berwyn Development Corporation partners with organizations such as the Illinois Small Business Administration (SBDC), the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development and Small Business Source Program, the Illinois Restaurant Association (IRA), the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC), and others to connect businesses with resources and education for entrepreneurs The Berwyn Development Corporation also collaborates with nonpro t partners, such as Morton College and Dominican University, on business education programs, training, and seminars to stimulate prosperity.
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Assistance, Promotion, and Grants
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• Logged almost 400 technical assistance sessions with small businesses, totaling 200 hours
Hosted over 10 di erent business events and training sessions
Reached approximately 25,000 individuals through approximately 60 di erent outreach activities, ranging from targeted email, phone calls, social media engagement, inperson business visits, and media campaigns.
Services that accelerate business outcomes
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These metrics highlight a steady rhythm of hands-on support and widespread communication. Hightouch advising combined with expanded outreach has assisted businesses in adjusting to changing conditions while remaining visible to local customers and visitors.
- HannahBreakey, MPA, BDCManagement Analyst
The BDC administers a wide variety of programs for local businesses, including the City of Berwyn's Finish Line Grant program, a Revolving Loan Program, community grants, ribbon-cutting events, and the Why Berwyn tourism and attraction program. The BDC also works to publicizes the success stories of Berwyn businesses through media outreach and community pro les in some of the region's most prominent business publications and platforms.
- Hannah Breakey, MPA , BDC Management Analyst
Finish Line Grants
Awarded in Q3
The Berwyn Development Corporation provides nancial assistance to businesses and commercial property owners for interior and exterior renovations, window replacements, rodent abatement, and security through the City of Berwyn's Finish Line Grant. This grant allows eligible stakeholders to apply for up to 50% of the rehabilitation costs (up to $50,000 in grant funding) At the end of Q3 2025, the following awardees have received grants through the program:
Leyla Home Furniture$4,720.00
W3Body – A Women’s Gym$9,831.15 Fitzgerald’s$26,500
Godson’s$17,140
Berwyn Dental Connection$3,250 Pro LG Insurance$2,600
“ These investments improve safety, accessibility, and curb appeal, core elements that attract foot tra ic and strengthen corridor resiliency. From façades to security enhancements, the program transforms individual businesses and the streetscapes they anchor.
- HannahBreakey, MPA, BDCManagement Analyst
Project Homegrown
Berwyn Shops and Sprout performance in Q3
The Berwyn Shops continued to thrive throughout the summer months, remaining a destination for community gatherings and local shopping from July through September. The boardwalk hosted a diverse lineup of events that brought together families, creatives, and entrepreneurs, including a junior re ghter safety class, karaoke night, lotería, a candle-making class, and a book fair in partnership with The Pile Bookstore. This quarter also featured a kid-entrepreneur event, a “create your own superhero” workshop, and a lively salsa-dancing and sangria night, all of which added to the Shops’ vibrant community atmosphere. Vendors continued to participate in business development opportunities throughout the quarter, including workshops and one-onone mentoring sessions
Sprout also maintained strong momentum this quarter, generating $72,961.95 in total sales and selling 7,700 items. Accessories remained the top-performing category, accounting for 52% of overall purchases, followed by home décor. Sprout also received positive attention on social media from local
in uencers, which helped attract new customers from neighboring communities and beyond who were eager to shop its unique product collection
Together, the Berwyn Shops and Sprout demonstrate how placemaking paired with curated retail can catalyze small-business growth Frequent, family-friendly programming keeps tra ic steady, while vendor mentorship and merchandising data inform smarter inventory decisions.
Chamber Highlights
Membership, retention, and engagement
The BDC is excited to share its progress as we conclude the third quarter. Membership is currently 216, with 8 new members joining, and the 3Q retention rate is 83.72%. Event attendance also increased signi cantly, reaching 161 participants.
Looking back, we focused on maintaining the momentum. Events included networking opportunities, workshops, and outreach programs designed to help businesses thrive and foster connections among residents and entrepreneurs. These initiatives aimed to strengthen the community and support local business growth.
From advocacy and visibility to education and peer networks, the BDC Chamber works to highlight the value of membership. Under new leadership, our goal is to continue to increase e ective programming and promotion of businesses in need.
Retention: 83.72%
• • • Total Members at the end of Sept. 2025: 216
Event Attendance: 161 Attendees
Marketing and Reach
E-blast results and social media reach
The BDC thoughtfully organizes its email campaigns into four main categories: Economic Development, Chamber, Why Berwyn, and Project Homegrown. Using targeted lists allows us to send relevant content to the right audiences, helping us build stronger engagement across our social media, website, and community events.
Our stable open rates and healthy click-through rates show that our content resonates well with our audience. Instagram impressions surged in September, driven by in uencer collaborations around Sprout and event coverage. By continuing to segment our lists and tell compelling stories across channels, we can keep growing while also encouraging more inperson visits and purchases.
Eblast Targets - 13,340
