Job Information
ICNC Advocacy and Economic Development Specialist in Chicago, Illinois
This job was posted by https://illinoisjoblink.illinois.gov : For more information, please see: https://illinoisjoblink.illinois.gov/jobs/11867582
ABOUT ICNC
ICNC is a non-profit organization that works to strengthen the companies in the Kinzie Industrial Corridor on Chicago\'s Near West Side. In addition to representing and providing assistance to hundreds of companies in its community, ICNC owns and operates Make City, a small business incubator which houses 100 small business tenants in its 416,000 square foot facility.
ICNC also co-owns the Hatchery, a food and beverage manufacturing incubator in Chicagos East Garfield Park neighborhood which assists food & beverage entrepreneurs grow their businesses. This facility is a one-stop-shop aiming to solve three major challenges in the industry: access to production space, financing, and resources.
\ Please visit<http://www.industrialcouncil.com> and <http://www.thehatcherychicago.org> for information on ICNC\'s mission and activities.
\ POSITION DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES\ \ The Advocacy & Economic Development Specialist is responsible for locating, curating, and disseminating economic development and market information to assist ICNC to understand modern urban industrial firms and Chicagos West Side. This is a full-time position and reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer.\ \ Economic Development
- Lead economic development initiatives
- Manage city contracts, including the Local Industrial Retention Initiative, TIF programs, and other support services to our entrepreneurial community
- Research, identify, and share relevant policies including Planned Manufacturing Districts, Tax Increment Financing, Industrial Corridors, etc. and track and report on policy changes relevant to organizational priorities
- Develop strategies to comply with policy changes and share with the entrepreneurial community
- Establish and maintain strong relationships with policy makers and stakeholders
- Work closely with incubation graduates and offsite members to navigate licensing and permitting, incentive programs and applications, and general interactions with city departments
- Work closely with programming team to develop training around new policy implementation
- Support organization-wide events
- Maintain record of local industrial real estate listings and market them to relocating members or graduating businesses from one of ICNCs incubators
- Identify opportunities for incubator development, including expansion, improvements, and funding
- Participates in the West Side Outreach Team, creating and implementing outreach strategies
- Maintains calendar of outreach activities, including community events, workshops, appearances, and other communication opportunities
Advocacy
- Guide ICNC public policy positions to best organize them around the entrepreneurial community and advocate for items that positively impact them
- Regularly review policies and procedures of ICNC programs and departments to best advocate for the entrepreneurial community
- Monitor development and policy issues that impact ICNCs entrepreneurial community
- Assess zoning changes, neighborhood plans, transit initiatives, and other proposals to engage in relevant items for ICNC
- Develop an organizational response plan for issues that affect ICNCs entrepreneurial community
- Cross-train on ICNCs own zoning, licensing, permitting, incentive plans, and applications with city departments, and act as leader in these processes in absence of the Administrative Manager
- Conduct regular interviews and surveys to collect data and enhance advocacy efforts
- Other related duties as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelors degree in related field (urban planning, economic or business development)
Experience in such areas as community organizing, manufacturing, public policy and land use
Comfortable interacting with city government and public speaking
High energy, outgoing, and a passion for ICNCs mission is essential
Strong communication, research, and marketing skills mandatory
Active listener who can relate well with all types of people, builds rapport, constructive and effective relationships
Able to maintain strong, positive, collaborative working relationships
Willing to travel and use personal vehicle as necessary for work-related activities mileage expenses are reimbursable
Excellent time management and strong organizational skills
Able to work in a fast-paced environment to meet established goals and deadlines
Skilled coordinating a variety of projects simultaneously
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