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wheeling

Incentives

Your One Stop Shop

Wheeling makes sense for an existing site selector in the market. Look no further. We provide various incentives and programs available for businesses, including matching grants for restaurant, entertainment, and retail build-out, Cook County property tax incentives like the Class 6 and 7 classifications, and TIF district financing. Village staff also provides tailored outreach to assist businesses in finding grant opportunities, competitive intelligence, workforce programs, and more. These incentives aim to encourage business development, industrial growth, and re-development within the community, providing financial support and resources for qualifying projects.

Tailored Outreach

Whether you are looking to expand, further develop your workforce, or simply to gain financial capital to support your business, our economic development staff constantly searches for grants and development opportunities, reaching out to you when your business qualifies or an opportunity fits your needs. Our economic development staff actively searches for opportunities tailored to current business located in Wheeling.

Highlighted Cook County Program for Small-to-Mid Businesses

The Cook County Manufacturing Reinvented Program supports small and mid-sized manufacturers in Cook County by offering fully-funded assistance for projects designed to enhance their operations, workforce, leadership, and growth strategies. This program enables businesses to tackle challenges, such as adopting automation, strengthening cybersecurity, improving employee engagement, and developing targeted sales and marketing plans. Eligible companies can select tailored projects to boost productivity, resilience, and competitiveness in the manufacturing sector.  For more information on whether your business qualifies and how to apply, visit Cook County Manufacturing Reinvented.

New Business Checklist

The following checklist is provided to help you understand requirements for new business registration in the Village of Wheeling. Many of the requirements below also apply to the relocation or expansion of a registered business. Some types of businesses require the assistance of other departments and will be referred by the Community Development Department staff as needed.

Contact the Village’s Planning Division to confirm the business type is allowed in the proposed location before you finalize your lease or sales contract (expect a minimum 2 day review).

The Planning Division may require a written description of the business. 

Any exterior changes to the building or property, including signage, should be discussed with the Planning Division and may require review by the Plan Commission and Village Board.

If a business type is considered a Special Use, additional review by the Plan Commission and Village Board will be required (60-90 day review, plus application fees). 

Typical Special Uses are restaurants, educational facilities, and businesses requiring a significant number of vehicles or outdoor storage.

Contact the Business Licensing Clerk to acquire and complete a business license application (minimum 6 week processing time).

Note: For some business types, the Village requires a 1-time fee to process fingerprints as part of the background check for the principal of the business.

Contact the Business Licensing Clerk at 847-459-2620.

Contact the Building Permit Specialist to determine whether any interior/exterior changes to the building or unit will require a building permit.

Contact the Community Development Department to learn more: 847-459-2620