Chicago: Mayor Johnson Announces $20 Million in Grant Awards for Community Development Projects
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CHICAGO – A South Shore birthing center, a Chinatown commercial complex and a Woodlawn ballroom are among 28 proposed projects being awarded $20 million in City financial support to help achieve neighborhood development goals, Mayor Johnson announced today.

Collectively valued at $58.5 million, the projects were chosen from more than 250 recent applications to the Department of Planning and Development's (DPD) Community Development Grant and Neighborhood Opportunity Fund programs. The funding will help pay for eligible construction and rehabilitation costs and related expenses.

The 10 Community Development Grant (CDG) finalists are being awarded $500,000 to $4.3 million. CDG awards are funded through the Housing and Economic Development bond, Tax Increment Financing and the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund.

The CDG projects and funding amounts include:
  • 5050 Prairie, 5040-56 S. Prairie Ave., Grand Boulevard
    $4.3 million to create a $15.8 million mixed-use development with apartments and restaurant space.  
  • Chicago Architectural Center, 111 E. Wacker Dr., Loop
    $1.75 million for $5.8 million in renovations to the center's first-floor education, gallery, retail and office spaces.  
  • Chicago South Side Birth Center, 8301 S. South Shore Drive, South Chicago
    $3.3 million for the $7.7 million renovation and expansion of an existing building to include a 3-suite birth center and reproductive health clinic.  
  • The Lev Avigayil Libenu Respite Center, 2827-39 W. Touhy Ave., West Ridge
    $1 million to create a $4 million center offering respite services for children, teens and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as a vocational program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  
  • Maplewood Brewing and Distillery, 2717-19 N. Maplewood Ave., Logan Square
    $1.5 million for the $3 million purchase and renovation of storage and production facilities.  
  • Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., Lake View
    $1.2 million for the $2.5 million conversion of two commercial storefronts into a 115-seat movie theater.  
  • Neighbors Helping Neighbors, 4111-13 N. Pulaski Rd., Irving Park
    $1 million for the $2.1 million development of a multi-use building for the operations of the Irving Park Community Food Pantry and other nonprofits and community groups.  
  • Onward House CARES, 2644 N. Central Ave., Belmont Cragin
    $500,000 for a $7 million building renovation to create a resource hub for human services including a food pantry, welcoming center and health services.  
  • The Pavilion at Chinatown, 2312-14 S. Wentworth Ave., Armour Square
    $1 million for the construction of a $3.8 million commercial building.  
  • The Workshop Arts Collaborative, 3741 W. Lawrence Ave., Albany Park
    $1.2 million to renovate a 100-year-old building as a $2.4 million multi-purpose space for community arts organizations, musicians and emerging young artists.  

Three additional CDG projects are receiving pre-development grants up to $150,000 to support eligible design and engineering fees, among other soft costs. The projects include:
  • EMRH West, 5147-59 W. Division St., Austin
    Proposed $2.9 million rehabilitation of an existing building as a clinic for individuals struggling with substance abuse.  
  • Floreciendo La Villita Community Hub, 2653-59 S. Kildare Ave., South Lawndale
    Proposed $16.4 million construction of a center offering programming including mental health services, literacy initiatives, youth development and legal aid.  
  • Optimum Joy, P.C., 3059 W. Augusta Blvd., Humboldt Park
    Proposed $1.3 million rehabilitation of space to allow for expansion of mental health services and job training programming.  

Fifteen Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF) finalists are receiving grants up to $250,000. The NOF program uses funding from fees paid by downtown construction projects to support small business and cultural projects located on commercial corridors on the West, Southwest and South sides.

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The NOF finalists include:
  • Linda's Sport Shoes, 3236 W. 26th St., South Lawndale
    $26,250 for retail storefront façade improvements.  
  • Preserve – Breakfast Bar & Luncheonette, 312-14 E. 51st St., Grand Boulevard
    $250,000 for new restaurant buildout.  
  • Shawn Brown Enterprises, Inc., 8750-54 S. Stony Island Ave., Calumet Heights
    $250,000 for exterior and interior renovation of a commercial space.  
  • K.C. Body Shop Supply Inc., 6033 S. Kedzie Ave., Chicago Lawn
    $111,375 for expansion of automobile retail operations.  
  • Soul Veg City, 201-09 E. 75th St., Greater Grand Crossing
    $133,550 for outdoor amenities and roof repairs.  
  • CMB Catering, 7247 S. South Chicago Ave., Greater Grand Crossing
    $250,000 for buildout of a commercial catering kitchen and retail café partnering with a neighboring youth center.  
  • Red Clay Dance Company, 816 E. 63rd St., Woodlawn
    $203,116 to build out a dance studio and space for artistic programming.  
  • The Grand Ballroom, 6531 S. Cottage Grove, Woodlawn
    $153,712 for space hosting community programing and events with a commercial kitchen.  
  • Los Alamos Inc., 2416-24 W. Cermak Road, Lower West Side
    $250,000 for buildout of restaurant and event space.  
  • FeOM Expressions, 2650 E. 83rd St., South Chicago
    $250,000 to create a mixed-use commercial facility for retail, artist, community and mental health uses.  
  • Eiffel Waffle, 10321 S. Halsted St., Roseland
    $250,000 to create a new gourmet ice cream shop.  
  • Global Tax & Bookkeeping, 4037 W. 26th St., South Lawndale
    $20,906 to update commercial office space with additional security measures.  
  • Trophy Room Cigar Café, 2520 W. Madison St., Near West Side
    $187,136 to renovate cigar lounge and social networking space.  
  • Greeneville's Venue/Greenes Floral, 9108-12 S. Ashland Ave., Washington Heights
    $60,812 to renovate the floral shop space.  
  • Harold's Chicken #4, 9151 S. Ashland Ave., Washington Heights
    $129,037 for improvements including a renovated dining area and energy efficient kitchen with upgraded equipment.  

Proposals were evaluated based on financial need, location, neighborhood impact, development team diversity and experience, and overall project readiness. Projects exceeding $250,000 require City Council approval.

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For more information on the grant programs, visit the Community Development Grant and Neighborhood Opportunity Fund websites.


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