The 1980s 1983 - With a grant from the City of Chicago, NORBIC initiates the first industrial retention initiative in Chicago, involving a large number of business owners and representatives from local colleges, city and state government. 1986 - After institutionalizing the industrial visit program, NORBIC becomes a delegate agency of the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development and is awarded a contract to provide services to area manufacturers under the Local Industrial Retention Initiative.