North Branch Works

10/01/2026

Goose Island Shrimp House is our Small Business of the Year! The Division Street Institution has been serving up fried shrimp since 1973. Here's a wonderful story about the business and our upcoming Fall Fest on October 8th.

The Division Street institution has been serving up fried shrimp since 1973. The restaurant will receive a local small business award next week for its contributions to the neighborhood.

10/01/2026

Coming up next in our , we have our Partner of the Year: SomerCor SomerCor!

🏆 SomerCor is the administrator of the Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) program - a reimbursable Chicago Planning & Development grant to help small businesses make permanent building improvements.

🏆 This year we partnered to connect business owners in three TIF districts with SBIF grant funds: Kennedy/Kimball, Goose Island, and Pulaski Corridor.

🏆 SomerCor is also a Small Business Administration certified lender, helping businesses buy, build, and refinance commercial real estate and heavy equipment with the loan program.

🏆 To find out more, visit SomerCor.com or contact [email protected]

Congratulations ! Join us in celebrating SomerCor at our Fall Fest on October 8th.

09/30/2026

Up next on our series, we have our Small Business of the Year:

Goose Island Shrimp House Goose Island Shrimp House

🏆 The shrimp house has operated for over 50 years (!!) from its location at 1011 W. Division

🏆 Known for its carry-out service and to-die-for shrimp, the business has attracted visits from celebrities near and far

🏆 Owner Lamone and his family care deeply about giving back to their community, putting food on people’s tables through fiscal and meal donations whenever possible

🏆 Go visit Goose Island Shrimp House and join us in honoring their contributions to the community at Fall Fest on October 8th!

Thank you, Goose Island Shrimp House !

09/29/2026

If you missed our boat tour or would like to experience the highights again, please enjoy the post below. It was exciting having many businesses from Goose Island on the cruise such as Goose Island Shrimp House, R2, Undefined x One Way Boxing Gym and Charlie Baggs Culinary Innovations. City of Chicago Department of Planning & Development Chicago Business Affairs and Consumer Protection

On September 10th, seventy-five community members and friends of the North Branch came together for a relaxing boat tour of the Chicago River hosted by Wendella Boats. We enjoyed a breathtaking sunset...

09/25/2026

Our Fall Fest is less than two weeks away!

Leading up to the celebration, we will be featuring each award winner on our page. This week, we’re starting off with our New Business of the Year award winner - Dolce Arte - Rockwell!

🏆Located at the Rockwell On The River development (3057 N Rockwell St)

🏆 Owners and sisters Brittany and Stephanie Bertucci are famous for their fresh cornetto, baked in the Italian style

🏆 Open 7 days a week, Dolce offers early morning catering, as well as lunch and dinner. PRO TIP: take your coffee and pastry to go on the riverfront patio just steps away!

Join us in celebrating Dolce Arte at our Fall Fest on October 8th!

09/24/2026

Workforce Solutions provides city grant funding for employee training

What can Workforce Solutions do for your business?

💲250,000 to train current workers and new hires

📎 On-the-job training for new hires

📎 Industry-recognized certificates

📎 Leadership development

📎 Customized training curriculum

…and much more!

Check eligibility through our link in bio.

Email [email protected] for more.

09/18/2026

Fall Fest is around the corner, come join us 🍂🍁

This year was one of our busiest, and what better way to cap it off than at our biggest party of the year!

Join us on October 8th, from 6-8 p.m. for a series of exciting silent auction items, a short awards program, and delicious food and drink from Trogo Kitchen and Market , and our brewery and distillery partners!

During Fall Fest, you will get the opportunity to meet local community leaders, neighborhood businesses, and city leaders. At North Branch Works, our mission is to deliver on the promise of a working Chicago River, and this autumn celebration will do the same.

Come share your stories with other bike tour attendees, swap tales of boat tours past, and discover new connections at the Fall Fest!

09/14/2026

And just like that, fall is around the corner!

Our Fall Festival is the best way to celebrate your community and kick off the autumn season right.

Join North Branch Works on October 8th at The Green Exchange (2545 W Diversey) for our biggest event of the year! Come for the business awards and stay for the great food from Trogo Kitchen and Market!

There will be opportunities to bid on unique local merchandise at the silent auction, and network with local businesses and community leaders as well!

You won’t want to miss this, get your tickets at the link in bio!

09/11/2026

The North Branch Boat Tour was the perfect opportunity to cap off Summer 2026!

It was a perfect evening with Wendella along the Chicago river - complete with delicious bites from The Paramount Group!

The tour cruised north from Wendella’s downtown stop, sailed up the North Branch, and headed back towards the city to catch a beautiful skyline view.

It was a truly spectacular night!

Many thanks to our sponsors who made the event possible:

Byline Bank
Wintrust
KOVAL Distillery
Paramount Events
Wendella
Ozinga
WM

Tune in for more events coming soon from North Branch Works!