A Strong and Expanding Base

Business retention, as well as business attraction, is an ongoing project for the City of Countryside. The city — in cooperation with AmeriMark Bank, National City Bank, State Bank of Countryside and Western Springs National Bank & Trust — has established a low-interest rate loan program for existing and potential city businesses. The goal of this program is to encourage existing businesses to remain in the city by assisting in their plans for expansion, modernization and rehabilitation and to also encourage potential new businesses to locate in Countryside.

Countryside does not levy a municipal property tax, meaning a lower overall property tax rate than the rates in surrounding communities, thus providing a huge competitive advantage for the members of our business community. The city also created the Sales Tax Revenue Sharing Program in 2000 to assist its existing business community with expansion projects and to also support new construction projects by new and current businesses within the community. The program allows for the city to share local sales taxes with a city business as a financial incentive on a commercial expansion or new construction project. It also allows the city to maintain a viable sales tax base and promote employment opportunities for area residents.

In addition to municipal incentives, Cook County offers a series of additional business development incentives that are available to qualified Countryside businesses. These include Cook County Property Tax Incentives, Cook County No Cash Bid Program and the Cook County Revolving Loan Fund.

The city’s Comprehensive Plan: Vision for 2024 was adopted in 2004, and promises to bring many improvements that will be appreciated by the business community. In addition to identifying certain parcels for needed redevelopment on primary commercial corridors, the plan will also bring to realization a landscaping ordinance that will work to address beautification issues on new commercial and industrial projects. Also, the 80-acre Dansher Industrial Park (situated on the northwest corner of Countryside city limits) is home to Air Liquide America, Chicago Chain, Crown Lift Trucks, Nalbach Engineering, Nyco Products, Sokol and Co., Vee Pak Inc. and other firms.