Chicagoland · Media · Research · Action
Local stories. Real connections. Action that follows.
Local Exchange Network documents the experiences of local business owners across Chicagoland, connects them to resources and opportunities, and turns what we learn into research that can strengthen the local business ecosystem.
Business on the Block
Meet the businesses shaping our communities.
A Local Exchange Network Original
The first episodes are in production.
Business on the Block tells the stories of local business owners in their own words. Own a business in Chicagoland? We want to hear from you.
Share your businessListen first
Stories are the beginning.
After their interview, participating owners can complete a short structured follow-up with a Local Exchange researcher — together, at the owner's pace. It documents how the business is doing, what is getting in the way, and what help the owner has tried to find.
Owners decide what can be used for research, what can be quoted, and what stays private. Taking part in a story does not automatically mean taking part in research.
What the research covers
- 01Access to capital
- 02Customer growth
- 03Marketing and visibility
- 04Procurement
- 05Workforce
- 06Licensing and permitting
- 07Property and space
- 08Technology
- 09Information access
- 10Government navigation
The Local Exchange model
From stories to evidence.
Every conversation can become something more durable: documented needs, real connections, tracked outcomes, and research that shows what is working.
- 1
Story, then
An owner shares their business in their own words.
- 2
Research, then
A short structured follow-up, completed together.
- 3
Connection, then
Documented needs are matched to relevant resources.
- 4
Action, then
Referrals are made with the owner's permission.
- 5
Outcome, then
Follow-up records what actually happened.
- 6
Insight
Patterns across businesses become public research.
Act, then follow up
Connecting needs to action.
Local Exchange cannot solve every business problem. What we can do is make sure needs are clearly documented, the right doors are identified, and someone checks back to see whether help actually arrived.
Documented with the owner
Owners choose and confirm their own top priorities — we don't assume the biggest problem is the most important one.
Matched to resources
Relevant organizations, programs, and partners are identified for each need.
Referrals tracked
Every referral is recorded, along with whether a real connection was made.
Followed up
Follow-up documents whether assistance occurred and what remains unresolved.
Local Exchange Research
What we are learning.
Research launching soon.
We publish numbers only after interviews have been verified and owners have consented to research use. These measures will appear here as the research grows.
Businesses heard
Businesses with a verified baseline interview.
Open priority needs
Owner-confirmed needs that are still being worked on.
Connections made
Verified connections — never just referrals sent.
Follow-up completion
Follow-ups completed, shown out of those due.
For partners