Barkaat Foods, a Chicago-based, Zabiha Halal protein processor, recently announced that it secured a Shariah-compliant credit facility from FirstMerit Corporation (FirstMerit) and Prairie Street Capital with the help of Sikich Investment Banking (Shariah law is the moral code and religious law of Islam). Barkaat will use this capital to expand its existing operations and develop new product lines. Barkaat expects to double its current staff of 40 people in the next year.