Use these links for information from government agencies and vetted third parties about new legislation, best practices, and other business topics. Most recent additions will be at the top of the list. Have a resource you'd like to share with fellow members? Send a link to info@northbrookchamber.org.

• Oakton College offers employers a free platform for job postings, College Central Network.
• Updates on Immigration Action & Federal Deployment -  Below are resources compiled by the Illinois Restaurant Association for how to prepare for a visit from Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), or ICE:
  • Illinois Restaurant Association: Action Alert - Federal deployment expected in Chicago
  • America Business Immigration Coalition: Employer resources
  • American Immigration Lawyers Association: Know your rights - If ICE stops you in public
  • City of Chicago Office of the Mayor: Protecting Chicago Initiative
• The Cook County Small Business Source provides free business advising, resources, and educational events. The Northbrook Chamber is proud to be a Source Referral Partner - contact Kathi Quinn for suggested programs and referrals!
• Employer compliance resources from the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC), shared by the Illinois Restaurant Association.
• View the slides from the 2025 Economic Outlook Breakfast presented by Tom Jalics, Fifth Third Private Bank
• The Illinois Secure Choice Program Savings Act is a state law that requires businesses that have do not offer or contribute to a qualified retirement plan, have been in business for at least two years, and had five or more Illinois employees in each quarter of the previous calendar year, to register for and facilitate employee enrollment in the Illinois Secure Choice program as a way for employees to save for retirement. Employer support here.
• Starting a business in Illinois? Check out this 5-step framework to registration requirements provided by the Illinois Secretary of State's Business Services Department. For detailed information on how to organize domestic corporations, qualifying foreign corporations, domestic limited liability companies, or how to register and protect trademarks and servicemarks, click here for guidebooks from the Illinois Secretary of State.
• Manufacturers, see new regulatory updates provided by UL Solutions.
• Advantage Illinois Participation Loan Program information: the State partners with approved lenders to provide a portion of financing to small businesses (<750 employees) with the State's share being subordinated to the lender and at lower interest rates. Info provided by the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity.
• Harper College now offers a no-cost series of four training courses to equip warehouse workers with the knowledge and skills to create safer workplaces. The courses are open to businesses with <250 employees as well as unemployed individuals seeking warehouse work. Classes are available live online, on campus, or on site at businesses. Click here for a flyer or visit the Harper College website for more information.
• The Illinois Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Regulatory Flexibility Program (RegFlex) helps small businesses navigate the state’s regulatory environment. When requested by 25 interested persons or an association representing 100 persons, RegFlex prepares a small business impact analysis for any rule proposed by a State executive branch agency (requests can be sent to CEO.RegFlex@illinois.gov). In addition, RegFlex publishes the Illinois Regulatory Alert, a weekly description of proposed rules that might affect small businesses (sign up for alerts here). To contact the Regulatory Flexibility Program with your regulation-related questions, email CEO.RegFlex@illinois.gov.
• Illinois Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Materials - All employers must have every employee review and verify that they have received training on an annual basis.
• Illinois Minimum Wage Requirements
• Northbrook Single-Use Bag Tax goes into effect 1/1/24. Info for Businesses and Consumers
• New Illinois Paid Time Off legislation takes effect 3/31/24.
• Understanding the Illinois Day and Temporary Labor Services Act -- a summary of new requirements affecting employers who use temporary workers for 90 or more days. Thank you to Mark Bernhard, Bernhard Woodwork for the suggestion.