Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson holds a press briefing for National Small Business Week.
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00:30Well, good morning, everyone.
00:42Thank you all for joining us today.
00:44Really excited, standing alongside of some incredible human beings.
00:49Our BACP commissioner, Mr. Ivan Capofalli, the U.S. Small Business Administration's Illinois
00:56District Director, Ouellette LeGrant, and the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce President,
01:01CEO, all is good, and then the owner of Play High Park, Ms. Ann Kinsley.
01:07Together, we are thrilled to kick off what we call the National Small Business Week here
01:14in Chicago.
01:16Yeah, right.
01:16There's one little woo-hoo.
01:19Yes.
01:20Let's try that again.
01:21Together, we are thrilled.
01:23Let's try that again.
01:24Cut and action.
01:26Together, we are thrilled to kick off Small Business Week right here in the greatest freaking
01:31city in the world, the city of Chicago.
01:33And it's important that we do this.
01:39It's an opportunity for us to celebrate small businesses and, of course, their impact
01:43on all of our communities.
01:46You know, most importantly, though, it's time that we actually spend some money in our small
01:51businesses so that we can generate the revenue that keeps small businesses moving forward
01:57and continues to allow them to employ right here in our communities.
02:01Small businesses are the heart of our communities, and it's really the backbone of our economy.
02:07Each of our Chicago's 77 community areas are unique and vibrant because of the small businesses
02:13that define the character of these communities.
02:16From restaurants that bring us authentic cuisine from around the world to local retail owners
02:23and service providers who share their passion and talents with our communities.
02:28Small businesses are the key to safe, equitable, and thriving communities as they employ our
02:35residents, fuel our economy, and uplift our neighborhoods.
02:40The city of Chicago is committed to supporting and investing in small businesses as we continue
02:46to work to drive economic, equitable growth that benefit all of the commercial corridors of our city.
02:53Through my administration's Build Better Together, this initiative, we are transforming city
02:59programs, policies, and processes to spur more economic development and growth throughout all
03:08of our 77 communities.
03:10One key way that we invest in small businesses and our commercial development is my administration's
03:17$1.25 billion investment for housing and economic development.
03:22It's the largest investment for housing and small businesses in the history of Chicago, the
03:29largest public investment.
03:31And half of that funding is committed to housing priorities, and the other half, of course,
03:35is committed to small businesses, the innovation as well as job growth that they provide.
03:41With this bond, we have already supported groundbreakings and ribbon cuttings on mixed-use affordable housing
03:48complexes, primarily on the south and west sides of Chicago, that need housing and commercial
03:55opportunities the most.
03:57As my administration continues to invest in our communities, and particularly our businesses,
04:02I hope the people of Chicago will join us and show their support for the National Small Business Week.
04:08There are close to 50,000 different business licensed in the city of Chicago, so that's plenty of
04:16opportunities for families to be able to find what they're looking for.
04:19In closing, I hope that our city's local restaurants, grocery stores, and retail shops, service providers,
04:25and others will feel Chicago's love and support this week.
04:29I look forward to continued partnership with BACP, our local business service organizations,
04:35and community partners to ensure that right here in Chicago, those who want to achieve their
04:41dreams of launching and running a small business can actually succeed.
04:45And so, Chicago, let's get to shopping, and let's make sure that we do it local.
04:50And so, with that, I'm pleased to bring to the podium our BACP Commissioner, Mr. Ivan Kapofali.
04:56Please give him a round of applause.
04:57Thank you very much.
04:58Good morning, everyone.
05:02Good morning.
05:04My name is Ivan Kapofali.
05:05I am the Commissioner for the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection.
05:10You guys know it as BACP.
05:11It is wonderful to be here in Hyde Park, a community known for its vibrant mix of cultural attractions,
05:18historical landmarks, and a thriving shopping district that attracts visitors from all over Chicago.
05:24Thank you, Mayor Johnson, for offlifting our communities and our city
05:27in profound ways as we continue to build better together.
05:31I want to thank also the Small Business Administration for sponsoring National Small Business Week,
05:37the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce, and of course, Plate High Park for hosting us today.
05:43Pleasure meeting you, Anne.
05:44You have an amazing business.
05:45As the Mayor mentioned today, we are kicking off National Small Business Week, which recognizes
05:52the hard work and the contributions to the economy made by small business owners.
05:59This week is another opportunity for us to shop local.
06:03When residents shop and dine locally, it creates a positive ripple effect that resonates across our entire city.
06:12When you buy a toy from a toy store like this one, you're not only helping the business stay afloat,
06:17but you're also helping wages get paid and people keep their jobs.
06:22So, just an example, like Anne, owner of Play, she depends on customers to continue to operate.
06:30She has supported our communities and invested in our city by opening her fifth store,
06:35and this is an amazing accomplishment for a business owner here in Hyde Park.
06:39So, it is clear that when you shop local, you support the city's diverse range of local small businesses
06:48and create jobs.
06:50You help boost the economy, and when you promote your local business, you know, in your neighborhood,
06:58it enhances neighborhoods, and you know that a well-run business can bring a lot of added value to your community,
07:04so please continue to support small businesses.
07:06Let us be reminded that Chicago's strong small business ecosystem is due to the resources and support available
07:13under Mayor Johnson's administration.
07:16BACP is proud to continue to inform and educate small businesses by providing business education,
07:23business counseling, and connecting small businesses to easy-to-access resources.
07:29We complement and reinforce the efforts of organizations like the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce,
07:34and I encourage every current and aspiring business owner to connect with their local business service organization,
07:42whether it's a Chamber of Commerce or another, to enjoy a no-cost, hyper-local technical assistance provided to you
07:50because of this administration makes that possible.
07:52These efforts are just a small example how the city of Chicago is here to support small businesses.
07:58So let this be a reminder, as I am full of reminders today, of the crucial role local businesses play in reinvigorating communities,
08:08and I encourage all Chicagos to continue to shop local.
08:12And I'm going to turn it over to Willette Grant, U.S. Small Business Administration District Director.
08:20Thank you so much.
08:22Good morning, everyone.
08:24Good morning.
08:24Good morning.
08:25Good morning.
08:26Good morning.
08:26I like the energy.
08:28This is for you.
08:29My name is Willette LeGrand.
08:30I am the District Director for the Small Business Administration.
08:33I've got to tell you, I'm absolutely, positively thrilled to be here today.
08:38Today is our Oscars.
08:39For the rest of the week, it's our Oscars.
08:42The thing that the Small Business Administration does more than anything that likes to do,
08:45and I certainly love to do, is celebrate small businesses.
08:49So the National Small Business Week honors the nation's 34 million, 34 million small businesses
08:57for their perseverance, their ingenuity, and commitment to excellence.
09:02Now, here in Illinois, more than 1.3 million exceptional small businesses, some of which are
09:09here today.
09:11Congratulations to each of you for the vital contributions that you make to the nation's economy
09:17every day.
09:18Now, whether it's in Hyde Park, in retail stores, on factory floors, or the frontiers
09:23of technology, small businesses are igniting the next generation of creativity and building
09:30the products that keep America strong, competitive, and secure.
09:35They are the very backbone of our economy.
09:38They are the job creators who make economic prosperity attainable for millions of Americans.
09:45Small businesses create two out of every three new jobs and employ nearly half of the workforce.
09:53I never get tired of saying that.
09:55I don't think it fully resonates the impact that small businesses have on this nation.
10:00And too often, when I'm in the community and I'm talking to small businesses, you know
10:04what they say to me?
10:05They say, I'm just a small business.
10:07I'm just a small business.
10:09It's almost as though they don't really understand the direct, not indirect, the direct impact,
10:16the contributions that they make to our nation.
10:18So to each of you, I say, take a very well-deserved bow.
10:23Not only are you the job creators, you are the difference makers.
10:29You are the economic engine of this country.
10:31Now, I would be remiss if I didn't recognize the extraordinary resource partners that helped
10:38to fuel this engine.
10:40In Illinois, we have 41 small business development centers, and I'm proud of the partnership that
10:45we have with the state of Illinois to make that happen.
10:49We also have five chapters of Service Corps Retired Executives, four women's business center
10:56and a veteran's business outreach center.
10:58In collaboration with SBA, they deliver essential, essential counseling and training and capital
11:05access and business development and contracting and so much more.
11:10The SBA is proud of the work that we get to do.
11:13Notice that I said we get to do this work.
11:15I took this position about a year and a half ago, and I got to tell you, I took it because
11:19of the mission, the mission that SBA has to serve small businesses.
11:25Our commitment to small businesses is unwavering.
11:27We are always looking for opportunities to help small businesses excel to even greater
11:32heights.
11:33There are several initiatives on the horizon that SBA is launching to do just that.
11:39With a focus on Main Street, Made in America, and accountability, the SBA is going to get
11:45rid of regulatory red tape, expand access to capital, invest in workforce development, and continue
11:52to build a dedicated infrastructure to help small businesses succeed so the future looks bright
11:59for small businesses and our economy.
12:01Again, please join me in honoring and applauding the difference makers, America's small businesses.
12:09And with that, I'd like to turn it over to Mr. Wallace Goode.
12:18Welcome to High Park.
12:20Hey.
12:20My name is Wallace Goode.
12:23I'm the Executive Director and CEO of High Park Chamber of Commerce.
12:27It's a true honor to welcome you to High Park as we celebrate the kickoff of National Small
12:32Business Week alongside Mayor Brandon Johnson, BACP Commissioner, and SBA Illinois District
12:38Director, as well as the owner of this great place.
12:41And we're so excited.
12:43I want to thank them for their steadfast leadership and partnership.
12:47Your presence here today speaks volumes about the commitment our city, state, and nation
12:52has to uplift small businesses and neighborhood economies.
12:57Annually, High Park welcomes more than 1.5 million visitors drawn by our culture and academic
13:04institutions, our 100 different culinary experiences, our bookstores, the lakefront, our parks, local
13:11boutiques, and the character that only small businesses can provide.
13:16The High Park Chamber has served this incredible community for 105 years, proudly serves 292 active
13:23members, and supports over 29,000 neighborhood residents.
13:27As a BACP Neighborhood Business Development Center, the Chamber is proud to be on the front
13:32line of supporting and guiding Chicago's business ecosystem.
13:36In the past year alone, we have curated 42 business development events.
13:412024 promises to be even better.
13:432025 promises to be even better.
13:462024 was really good.
13:48I want to relive that.
13:50High Park's business community succeeds because they are not just part of our economy.
13:56They are the heart of our community.
13:58They are where our neighbors work, where our families gather, and where our community's
14:02diversity shines brightest.
14:04Our nation's small businesses are more than engines of economic growth.
14:08They are champions of innovation, keepers of culture, and guardians of equity.
14:13They hire locally, give generously, and dream boldly.
14:17And they do it in the face of rising costs, competition from global retailers, and the lasting
14:23impact of the pandemic.
14:25That's why this week and every week, we stand with them.
14:28We celebrate them.
14:29Let me take a moment to recognize the fact that in this High Park Shopping Center, this
14:35is the third new business, small business, that has formed here recently.
14:43Whether you want French coffee at La Boulangerie, or whether you want Indian, Caribbean, and
14:48African-infused cuisine at Mahari, please come back and enjoy this.
14:53But definitely come back and buy a toy.
14:57Lastly, the Chamber is proud to advance our work through Discover High Park, a strategic
15:01committee of the Chamber that positions High Park as a premier destination.
15:06Our vision for 2025 is clear and collective.
15:09We are continuing to build a High Park that is dynamic, walkable, safe, and accessible.
15:15A place where small businesses can thrive, where art and culture are preserved, and where
15:20community engagement is not just encouraged, but celebrated.
15:23To all our small business owners, you are the heartfelt, the heartbeat of this community.
15:29Thank you, and let's make this week and this year a powerful step forward from High Park
15:33and for all small businesses across our nation.
15:35It is my honor to introduce the owner of this incredible establishment, Ann Kinsley.
15:41Thank you, Ann.
15:47Thank you, Wallace.
15:49Thanks.
15:51Spot Local.
15:53My name is Ann Kinsley, and I opened Play, a toy store, in 2010 in Logan Square.
16:00This is our 15th anniversary Labor Day weekend.
16:03And now we're celebrating the opening of our fifth shop here in Hyde Park.
16:08So, welcome.
16:11We are exactly three weeks old.
16:15In those 15 years, we have made it through multiple expansions, a global pandemic, a supply
16:22chain crisis.
16:23We thrived through all of this with the support of our loyal customers and their endless cheerleading.
16:30And now we're faced with a global trade war.
16:34And supporting small business continues to be more imperative than ever.
16:38The only way your neighborhood shops will survive is if you support them.
16:43Chicago has a vibrant collection of small businesses woven through each neighborhood,
16:48bringing character and culture and community in a way that no one else can.
16:52While Chicago is world-renowned for its restaurant scene and its beautiful lakeshore, I'm going
17:00to say that it should also be known for its collection of small businesses.
17:06Cool, eclectic local retail scene makes it an amazing place to explore.
17:12Shopping and dining local is really the only way Chicago thrives.
17:16So, I implore you, whether you're visiting or you're a local, to promote Chicago, explore
17:24Chicago, shop, drink, and dine Chicago.
17:27Thank you so much for coming to our shop, and we hope to see you soon.
17:32All right.
17:32Yeah, thank you, Ann.
17:38Thank you, Mr. Good and Ms. Legrand.
17:41Thank you to our commissioner, Capofale.
17:44And thank you all for being here today.
17:46With that, we'll take a couple of questions.
17:48Can we have a question for you?
17:50I have a question on topic, and I have a question on topic.
17:53On and on?
17:55On and off.
17:56Got it.
17:56Okay.
17:56All right.
17:57All right.
17:57I didn't have my copy yet.
17:59It's okay.
18:00You know where to go, right?
18:01So, having these small businesses in particular, and we talked about three that just opened
18:08here in this area, crime continues to be an issue for them.
18:12In fact, just in this plaza, there were some issues, and some of these businesses, they keep
18:19their doors locked because they're concerned about crime.
18:21So, how would you address these issues that these small business owners have?
18:26Because it's very expensive to have security, and they want to be welcoming.
18:32So, what are you doing to help small businesses deal with crime?
18:35Well, it is an issue.
18:36It's a top issue that I confront every single day.
18:40And it's something that is going to really require all of us collectively to ensure maximum safety.
18:49One of the ways in which you create safe and vibrant communities is by the expansion of
18:54small businesses and these commercial corridors where there are actually more people who are
18:59moving about because that is what engenders safety.
19:02When more people are around and more people are shopping and more people are out, those
19:07type of incidences and tragedies are less likely to happen.
19:10Now, as you also know, that crime is down in Chicago.
19:14It continues to fall.
19:16April was the lowest months of homicides that we've seen since, for a very long time, 1962,
19:24between January and April.
19:26And I believe violent crime is down roughly 23%, 24%.
19:31Robberies are down.
19:33We implemented a robbery strategy just over a year ago.
19:36So, we're going to continue to show up.
19:38But it's not just policing.
19:40It can't be policing alone.
19:42As we continue to make these critical investments, incentivizing more businesses, small businesses,
19:47to go forward and to thrive, it creates more activity.
19:51You know, my son is a junior right around the corner from here at Kenwood.
19:57And, you know, I'm feeling away because he's starting to really enjoy the south side of Chicago.
20:01And as a west sider, I just kind of feel away about that.
20:05But, you know, students come out of Kenwood Academy as they look to explore or spend time for open campus.
20:13So, public safety is top priority.
20:15And we're going to continue to drive violence down in the city of Chicago.
20:18And then we just had these unfortunate incidents, police shootings, too, that happened very close to one another.
20:26Just what can you tell us about them and what's going on with police training?
20:34Well, these cases will be investigated thoroughly by all of the respective bodies.
20:40I'll have a conversation, a deeper conversation with the superintendent a little later today
20:45to get a better understanding of what went on.
20:48But what I can say is, you know, we have fully embraced constitutional policing.
20:53Since I've been in office, the compliance rate has gone up significantly.
20:57The training that we are offering for our police officers have already shown repeated benefit.
21:04We saw how we handled the Democratic National Convention
21:07and, you know, other elements of engagement.
21:11So, we'll get the full scope of what went down.
21:15You know, and my number one priority is not just creating constitutional policing,
21:20but making sure that we engender absolute confidence
21:22between our local law enforcement and the community
21:26because that's ultimately how we secure safer communities when that trust is maintained.
21:32Hi, Mayor.
21:33Hi.
21:34Council is set to resume discussion today on the curfew proposal.
21:38Can you tell us, has your view changed?
21:39Where do you stand on that right now?
21:40Well, one of the things that, I mean, I think the people of Chicago will appreciate about me,
21:45as much as I believe that we have to constantly involve in our thinking,
21:49we cannot succumb to elements of practices that just don't prove to be effective.
21:54So, my position around curfew is it's the position that 12 rigorous studies have gone through,
22:00that there is no empirical evidence that lowering the curfew is going to reduce
22:05or eliminate those type of incidents.
22:07What we have to do is continue to come together as a city to have conversations around
22:12how do we hold people accountable, how do we create opportunities,
22:15and how we continue to collaborate.
22:17I spent Friday afternoon, spending the most part of my day in the second ward,
22:22talking to folks in River North and Streeterville and the like,
22:26to have in these substantive conversations.
22:28And you know what they all agree on?
22:29That we have to invest in our young people.
22:31Everybody agrees with that.
22:34And so we're going to continue to make sure that we have these collaborative conversations.
22:39That's my responsibility to continue to bring people together
22:41so that we can come up with effective solutions.
22:44Now, here's the thing.
22:45These incidences have gone down.
22:48One is one too many.
22:49Just like violent crime continues to go down in the city of Chicago.
22:53It's not just because of one entity.
22:54It's because of this, the collective work.
22:56Making sure we're investing in housing.
22:58That's how we build safer communities.
23:01Investing in our small businesses.
23:03That's why I put forth the $1.25 billion investment for housing and economic development.
23:09Those two components together is how we build better together.
23:12And that's what we're going to continue to do.
23:14We're going to stay focused on what works.
23:16We're going to continue to come together and remain firm to ensure that a better, stronger, safer Chicago becomes a reality.
23:22And just as a follow-up to that, one of the big concerns that I've heard about the curfew plan as a state is that, you know,
23:29if someone were to be arrested underneath it, it could, you know, come back with lawsuits and legal battles against the city.
23:35Have you talked to legal staff within the city about whether it would pass the constitutional lawsuit?
23:39Well, look, I've made that very clear from the very beginning.
23:43I'm not entirely sure of the constitutionality of a measure that would be solely concentrated in one particular area.
23:49Now, since I brought folks together, there is a broader conversation.
23:53But here's the thing that's most important.
23:55We want to prevent these type of occurrences from happening.
23:58And everything that we do to invest in the front end, we don't have to scramble on the back end.
24:03Let me just tell you this.
24:04Being a father, raising three children, if you don't prepare the night before, I'm just saying, right?
24:11So we have to do a better job at preparing.
24:13And our police superintendent is doing that.
24:15But it has to be a holistic approach.
24:17There's a reason why violent crime is going down in Chicago.
24:20It's because we're showing up on the front end.
24:23For too long, we've had a very puerile, lazy approach towards governance.
24:28And so we're taking a mature approach.
24:30We're doing the things at work.
24:32And I know that there's a level of trepidation and fear and anxiety that exists.
24:36I get that.
24:37I'm raising my family in a very beautiful community.
24:39It's the Austin neighborhood.
24:41We love it.
24:41And I'm the first mayor in the history of Chicago to wake up in one of the most violent neighborhoods in the entire city.
24:46You know, a couple of years ago, my son started at Kenwood first week in school.
24:51A kid goes out for lunch and gets murdered, right?
24:53These are things that I think about every single day.
24:55I don't want children harmed.
24:57And that's why I've invested millions of millions of dollars into youth employment.
25:02We're going to hire 29,000 young people working with small businesses around the city to hire these young people.
25:08Also with government agencies.
25:10As a city, we will do what works.
25:13And even in the midst of some level of fear and trepidation and some anxiety, we have to hold firm to our values.
25:20And our values are accountable, making people accountable, keeping people accountable, making sure we're creating opportunities, making these investments, and working together.
25:29And we're going to continue to do that.
25:30All right.
25:31Thank you all very much.
25:32Appreciate you all.
25:32Thank you all.
25:32Thank you all.