Chicago: Mayor Brandon Johnson Announces 14 Neighborhood Opportunity Fund Grant Awards
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CHICAGO ~ Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced today that 14 local businesses and entrepreneurs have been selected as finalists for Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF) grants, totaling nearly $1.9 million. These grants will support neighborhood improvement projects totaling approximately $2.8 million.

The awardees include a century-old bakery in the Lower West Side, an urban farm in Greater Grand Crossing, and a print shop in Austin. Ranging from $47,540 to $250,000, the grants will support a variety of projects such as building renovations, expansions, and improvements.

In a statement, Mayor Johnson expressed his pride in supporting these businesses and their efforts to revitalize their communities. He sees the NOF grant program as a crucial investment in creating a safer, more affordable, and thriving future for all of Chicago. He also commended the grant recipients for taking this step and looks forward to seeing them grow, create jobs, and inspire the next generation of community leaders.

The grant recipients were selected from 59 proposals submitted during an application period that closed in May. The applications were evaluated based on project readiness, neighborhood needs, and other criteria by the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) Commissioner Ciere Boatright.

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According to Commissioner Boatright, each of these grants will contribute to commercial corridor vitality and complement nearby investments. Many of these projects are located near other recent DPD grantees which will help create a critical mass of improvements for long-term neighborhood growth.

The NOF grants are made possible through fees paid by downtown construction projects. 80% of the proceeds are used as grants that support small business and cultural projects located on West, Southwest and South Side commercial corridors. These grants reimburse up to 75% of eligible costs for new construction and rehabilitation with additional funding available for design and technical assistance.

The grant amounts range from $47,540 to $250,000 and include:

- Chicago Systems & Signals, located at 121 E. 115th St. in West Pullman, received $250,000 for their engineering company headquarters buildout.

- DixiePura Kitchen, located at 325 E. Pershing Road in Grand Boulevard, received $59,700 for their Southern/Asian restaurant renovation.

- DLV Printing Service, Inc., located at 5825 W. Corcoran Place in Austin, received $93,600 for their retail area expansion.

- GCYC Food Sovereignty Hub, located at 7230 S. South Chicago Ave. in Greater Grand Crossing, received $250,000 for their youth center greenhouse and urban farm expansion.

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- Host Mart Inc., located at 235 E. 35th St. in Douglas, received $88,299 for their Indian grocery store buildout.

- James L. Bowers Attorney, located at 5940-42 W. Chicago Ave in Austin, received $114,900 for their office space exterior improvements.

- Loncar's Chico, located at 3201 E. 92nd St. in South Chicago, received $75,000 for their tavern facade and roof improvements.

- Nova Driving School Inc., located at 3811 W. 26th St. in South Lawndale, received $159,750 for their classroom rehabilitation and expansion.

- Pink Hats Construction & Development Inc., located at 11004 S Halsted Ave in Morgan Park received $250,000 for their engineering company office space expansion.

- ReStore South LLC., located at 6057 S Western Ave in Chicago Lawn received $120765 for a Habitat for Humanity home improvement store buildout.

- Rosnogaizi Beauty Salon LLC., located at 4147 W North Ave in Humboldt Park received $116826 for workspace renovations.

- Universal Travel Service Inc., located at 4310 W.26th St. in South Lawndale received $126960 for storefront improvements.

- Wagner's Bakery Inc., located at 2148 W Cermak Road in Lower West Side received $101160 for kitchen and sales floor improvements at their 107-year-old bakery.

- Xpress Auto Repair Inc., located at 7820 S Ashland Ave in Auburn Gresham received $47540 for exterior signage upgrades.

Applications for NOF grants are accepted on a rolling basis. For more information, interested parties can visit Chicago.gov/NOF. These grants are a testament to the city's commitment to supporting local businesses and promoting economic growth in all of its neighborhoods.

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