February 10, 2023

Mayor Lightfoot Announces Twelve Recipients Of $27 Million In Community Development Grants

First round of community development grant funding announced for 2023 will support expansion and new construction of local businesses, mixed use developments, and nonprofit organizations

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

CHICAGO—Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot announced today that twelve neighborhood businesses and nonprofit organizations are set to receive more than $27 million in Community Development Grants. Ranging from approximately $54,000 to $5 million, the grants will support neighborhood investments for local cooperative grocery stores, health centers, music education centers, and locally owned restaurants. Grants will be used to fund interior renovations, new construction, and other eligible costs.  

"I'm thrilled to announce this year's first round of community development grant awards that will ensure our city's economic recovery while revitalizing our neighborhoods," said Mayor Lightfoot. "The recipients of these awards will bring much-needed grocery stores, office and retail spaces, and community hubs to neighborhoods across Chicago, expanding our residents' access to nutritious food, healthcare, education, and job opportunities." 

The Community Development Grant program is part of Mayor Lightfoot’s Chicago Recovery Plan, the City’s $1.2B new investment strategy to enable Chicago’s economic recovery post-Covid. The program has committed more than $150M toward more than 170 projects across the city since the beginning of 2022 and leverages additional funding sources to better support catalytic growth. The grants are designed to support neighborhood vitality, economic development, community wealth building, public health, and local planning goals. 

Funding sources include City of Chicago bond funds and proceeds from the Department of Planning and Development’s (DPD) Tax Increment Financing program. 

"These grants are being strategically allocated through a competitive application process that considered multiple criteria, including community needs, project viability, team diversity, and other factors," DPD Commissioner Maurice Cox said. "The selection process and the City's ongoing technical assistance will collectively ensure these investments have a maximum impact at the neighborhood level." 

Recipients and grant amounts include the following: 

Project Name   

Community    

Area (Ward)   

Description   

Funding Amount   

BandWith   

East Garfield Park (27)   

Adaptive reuse of an existing industrial building for a community performing arts center and youth music education non-profit organization.  

$5.0M   

Demera Ethiopian Restaurant   

Grand Boulevard (4)   

Adaptive reuse of an existing building for a ground floor restaurant with rooftop dining space, second floor office space, and second- and third floor residential units.   

$3.1M   

Revive 360   

Woodlawn (20)   

Redevelopment of the Washington Park National Bank Building for Class A office and retail space, including co-working space and a food hall, and complete renovation of the historic façade.   

$5.0M   

Yellow Banana - Altgeld   

Riverdale (9)   

New construction of 10,000 SF grocery store.  

$4.87M   

Sunshine’s Place   

North Lawndale (28)   

Build out of a new restaurant in a currently vacant building in an INVEST South/West and Community Safety focus neighborhood.  

$54,375   

Circle Foundation   

Bridgeport (11)   

Build-out of a new student-run café in an existing community center.  

$154,875   

Southside Market   

Chatham (6)   

Buildout of a micro-grocery co-operative.  

$239,826   

Kilwins   

Hyde Park (4)   

Expansion of an existing chocolate and ice cream shop to include private outdoor patio space.  

$250,000   

88 Plates LLC   

Uptown (48)   

Buildout of new Asian restaurant/café in recently vacated restaurant space.    

$156,750   

La Catrina LLC   

East Side (10)   

Renovation of vacant property to create a new small banquet hall and event space. 

$250,000   

Tapestry 360 Health   

Uptown (46)   

A new community health center to replace the current location, which will provide primary care, behavioral health, and dental services with expanded healthcare offerings and increased patient capacity.   

$3.8M   

IMAN Health Center  

Chicago Lawn (16)   

20,053 sf expansion to provide critical holistic healthcare services and further stabilize the 63rd/California intersection.   

$5M   

   

   

TOTAL   

$27.9M   

 

Applications for City financial assistance are currently being accepted by the DPD. Opportunities for funding include projects focused on business expansion, community development, community wealth-building, equitable transit-oriented development, and climate infrastructure improvements. The next application due date is Friday, Feb. 24th, 2023.     

To apply or for more information, see the Chicago Recovery Plan web site.  

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