A business accelerator that has worked with entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders on Chicago’s South Side since 2018 is expanding its presence in the south suburbs, bringing workspace, business development resources and networking opportunities closer to local business owners.
University CoWork’s office at 17475 Jovanna Drive, Suite 1D, in the Homewood-Hazel Crest area, is designed to support entrepreneurs, small businesses and nonprofit organizations through a combination of professional workspace, educational programming and business development services.
David Lubin, founder of University CoWork, said the organization launched in 2018 as the first full-service business accelerator on Chicago’s South Side and now works with hundreds of entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders on at least a monthly basis.
“About 30% of our members live and/or work in the southern suburbs,” Lubin said. “It therefore made sense for us to engage with them closer to home, offer our unique resources to more of our Southland neighbors, and more deeply connect the Chicago South Side and Chicago Southland communities.”
The organization recently received the Village of Hazel Crest’s 2026 Innovation Award for helping strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
According to Lubin, University CoWork currently offers a Chicago office in the Hyde Park-Woodlawn area, a south suburban office in the Homewood-Hazel Crest area, virtual mail services in Chicago, a virtual mail service in Homewood that is expected to launch soon and a virtual accelerator program.
The south suburban location features private offices, dedicated desks, flexible workspaces, meeting rooms, content creation rooms and indoor and outdoor event space.
Lubin said entrepreneurs often struggle with a lack of time, money and meaningful connections. University CoWork seeks to help address those challenges by providing access to workspace, educational programming, networking opportunities and business resources designed to support growth.
The organization also offers a perks program that introduces business leaders to professional resources at reduced costs while helping organizations identify services that best fit their needs.
University CoWork members say the organization provides more than just office space.
“It works great for us because we’ve reduced our operating costs while still maintaining a professional, modern environment for our clients,” said Derrick and Sy Reese of Reese Law Center LLC, members of the Southland Office. “We’re able to meet clients in conference rooms or private offices, and everything runs smoothly and efficiently. We also enjoy being around other professionals and the sense of community it provides.”
Trevell Southall of TS Design Studio said the organization’s community-oriented approach has helped create opportunities to connect with other business owners.
“The difference at University CoWork is that you are investing in a membership and a community, not just real estate,” Southall said. “As someone who works business-to-business, there is no better place to be than an environment where the doors stay open and members actually want to work with one another.”
University CoWork is collaborating on the south suburban project with Southland Works, a nonprofit organization focused on South Side and south suburban economic and community development. Lubin said the organization has also engaged with municipal officials, chambers of commerce and economic development organizations during its expansion into the region and hopes to deepen those relationships in the years ahead.
Looking ahead, Lubin said the organization hopes to grow the south suburban office into what he described as an “epicenter of economic and community development” for the region.
University CoWork points to the success of its Hyde Park-Woodlawn location as an example of the model’s potential impact. That location has grown into a community of more than 100 members since 2018, representing industries ranging from finance and healthcare to technology, real estate, nonprofits and creative businesses.
