CityGate Centre welcomes Veteran Business Project
- Calamos Real Estate
- Oct 22
- 2 min read
Plus, Second Annual Valor to Venture event to be held Nov. 6
Veteran Business Project, Inc., the only boots-on-the-ground nonprofit that works one-on-one with military veterans and military spouses to attain business ownership, has moved its national headquarters and resource center from Park Ridge, IL, to a 1,621 SF suite on the ground floor of the Calamos Investments Building here at CityGate Centre.
VBP was founded 13 years ago by Vietnam Marine Lynn Lowder and local restaurateur and business coach Dale Eisenberg. Driven by data that shows after World War II nearly 50 percent of veterans became business owners, yet that number is estimated to be less than 5 percent of post-9/11 veterans.
With a hands-on approach Lowder, Eisenberg and their small but nimble team guide veterans through the process of entrepreneurship including efforts such as VBP’s (City of Chicago) Certification Assistance Program for Veterans and obtaining financing.
In addition to its commitment to the veteran community, VBP has made a commitment to the Naperville community, operating Naperville-favorite breakfast and lunch spot Rosie’s Home Cookin’ since 2022. Rosie’s will move from its original Aurora Ave. location to 2155 CityGate Ln. at Naperville’s CityGate Centre later this year.
VBP also will hold its Second Annual fundraising event in Naperville at Meson Sabika, 1025 Aurora Ave. 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6. Tickets are $50 and include food and drinks. They can be purchased here.
“I’m grateful to the Naperville community for embracing us and supporting our mission,” said Lowder. ““Moving to CityGate Centre gives us a chance to keep growing that mission and create more opportunities for veterans in business.”
“I am excited about this next chapter for Rosie’s at CityGate Centre,” added Eisenberg. “Rosie’s shows how Veteran Business Project can help veterans turn ideas into successful businesses, and I am eager to see where we go from here.”
The organization and its mission are well-suited to its new location. Local businessman and Vietnam veteran John P. Calamos, Sr. developed CityGate Centre, a live-work-play community where the global investment firm he founded also is headquartered, demonstrating the enterprising spirit Lowder and Eisenberg hope to help more veterans embody.
“Supporting veterans’ causes is a longstanding priority for Mr. Calamos and integral to the culture of all the Calamos companies,” said Calamos Real Estate SVP and Designated Managing Broker Ken Witkowski. “We welcome Veteran Business Project and look forward to adding Rosie’s to the great dining selections at CityGate Centre.
“We are extremely proud to have them here,” he added.
