The Illinois Office of Tourism announced 28 new small businesses, or ‘Makers’ have been recognized as part of the Illinois Made program. The program recognizes each business as a hidden gem for locals and visitors to discover, offering unique products and experiences all around the state. From vegan dessert makers, alpaca and hemp farmers, and a Chicago candlemaker with a mission to provide young moms with critical job training skills – each of the small businesses featured help make Illinois a one-of-a-kind destination for visitors. The Illinois Made program, launched in 2016, inspires residents and visitors to discover the people, products and authentic experiences created by one-of-a-kind small businesses found in every region of the state.  The Illinois Made program now features over 200 Makers from all corners of Illinois and continues to drive foot traffic into local small businesses around the state. The new Makers include the following businesses in or near Chicago:

Accents by Fred – Forest Park

Bright Endeavors – Chicago

Hungry Monkey Bakery – Lake Forest

Kombucha Brava LLC – Evanston

McMahon Gallery – Lake Forest

More Brewing Company – Huntley

Vintrendi Wine Company – Park Forest

The Illinois Made program builds on the State’s efforts to highlight small businesses as a visitor attraction in and of themselves, to celebrate its diverse communities, and to boost tourism activity to support local economies statewide. To learn more about Illinois Made or to check out the complete list of businesses, visit: EnjoyIllinois.com/IllinoisMade