Small business loans are not being dished out at past rates in minority and low-income areas across Chicagoland and across Illinois. That’s according to a new study from Chicago’s Woodstock Institute. The lack of investment from banks essentially leaves communities without gasoline for their economic engines. We hear from the study’s author, and 2 small business owners trying to access additional capital.

Plus this week’s See Hear Eat has a seriously nerdy bent to it as Chicago’s “King of Geeks” weighs in on fun things to do in and around the city this weekend.