West Cook News

The Town of Cicero hosted its first Business Open House on September 20th at the Cicero Community Center. The event, which began at 10 a.m., brought together town officials and local business owners to discuss business development and support.

Diana Dominick, who organized and opened the event, welcomed attendees with a commitment to ongoing support for local businesses. "I want to welcome you to the first of many consecutive seminars dedicated to you, the business owners of Cicero," she said. Dominick emphasized the town's role in assisting businesses with efficient operations amid changing social norms and economic conditions.

The open house featured representatives from various town departments who provided information on available resources and services. Ismael Vargas, Director of the Business License Department, highlighted the importance of communication between his department and local businesses. "Our department serves over 4,000 businesses in Cicero. We’re here to have conversations with the community about what needs we have and how we can support each other," Vargas stated.

Fire Chief Jeff Penzkofer reassured attendees regarding safety inspections for new businesses: "When you have a new business, we do a business inspection. If there are any violations, we give you time to fix them." Police Superintendent Tom Boyle spoke about public safety efforts: "I have the pleasure of leading the Cicero Police Department. One of the things we work for every day is making our community safer."

Elizabeth Lopez from the Collector’s Office discussed payment collections for vehicle tags and parking permits, while Nancy Moscinski from the Health Department mentioned their role in inspecting new businesses. Nancy Castillo from the Building Department explained their responsibilities related to permits and safety standards compliance.

Tom Tomschin, Executive Director of the Department of Housing, outlined funding initiatives supporting both businesses and residents: “Annually, we fund social services agencies, provide grants for school programs and daycare services, and fund infrastructure projects. We’re always looking for contractors to join our pre-approved list.”

Deputy Schullo from the Real-Time Crime Center shared how technology enhances security: “The Town of Cicero has over 50 cameras with license plate readers. We are looking to integrate business cameras into our real-time center, which allows us to react faster if something happens.”

Dominick concluded with an optimistic outlook: “Businesses with questions will receive follow-ups from the appropriate departments. We will continue to host these meetings, and we look forward to seeing you at the next one.”

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