Chicago Awards $33 Million in Development Grants to Diverse Group of Businesses and Organizations
The city of Chicago has announced that 58 businesses and community organizations will receive $33 million in development grants, part of the city's broader Neighborhood Opportunity Fund program. The grants were awarded after a competitive application process through the Department of Planning and Development.
Mayor Brandon Johnson praised the recipients, saying they are essential to fueling the local economy and creating opportunities for neighbors, young people, and artists. "Each of you bring the potential of building more affordable, safer, and thriving communities," he stated.
The Department of Planning and Development Commissioner Ciere Boatwright noted that nearly 400 applications were considered before selecting the final 58 winners, who collectively represent over $90 million in public-private investment across the city.
Some notable recipients include Funkytown Brewery, a Black-owned craft beer brewery on the Near West Side, which received $3.7 million to expand its operations. The Institute for Nonviolence, a nonprofit focused on gun violence prevention, was awarded $4.8 million to build a new headquarters in West Garfield Park.
Other notable winners include Los Candiles Restaurant in Little Village, which will receive nearly $96,000 to expand and hire new employees, and the West Garfield Park-based Institute for Nonviolence.
The grants will support various projects, including the construction of a content production studio in East Garfield Park, an intergenerational housing development, and the renovation of restaurants in West Pullman, Bridgeport, and Calumet Heights. The funds will also be used to establish a cultural and social resource center in McKinley Park.
The recipients expressed gratitude for the grants, with Institute for Nonviolence founder Teny Gross stating that the funding "will give us motivation" to continue their work. The owners of Los Candiles Restaurant similarly stated that the grant is a blessing, allowing them to expand and hire new employees after facing business challenges in recent years.
The awards bring the total investment through the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund program to $90 million, with approximately one-third of the funding going towards these 58 selected projects.
The city of Chicago has announced that 58 businesses and community organizations will receive $33 million in development grants, part of the city's broader Neighborhood Opportunity Fund program. The grants were awarded after a competitive application process through the Department of Planning and Development.
Mayor Brandon Johnson praised the recipients, saying they are essential to fueling the local economy and creating opportunities for neighbors, young people, and artists. "Each of you bring the potential of building more affordable, safer, and thriving communities," he stated.
The Department of Planning and Development Commissioner Ciere Boatwright noted that nearly 400 applications were considered before selecting the final 58 winners, who collectively represent over $90 million in public-private investment across the city.
Some notable recipients include Funkytown Brewery, a Black-owned craft beer brewery on the Near West Side, which received $3.7 million to expand its operations. The Institute for Nonviolence, a nonprofit focused on gun violence prevention, was awarded $4.8 million to build a new headquarters in West Garfield Park.
Other notable winners include Los Candiles Restaurant in Little Village, which will receive nearly $96,000 to expand and hire new employees, and the West Garfield Park-based Institute for Nonviolence.
The grants will support various projects, including the construction of a content production studio in East Garfield Park, an intergenerational housing development, and the renovation of restaurants in West Pullman, Bridgeport, and Calumet Heights. The funds will also be used to establish a cultural and social resource center in McKinley Park.
The recipients expressed gratitude for the grants, with Institute for Nonviolence founder Teny Gross stating that the funding "will give us motivation" to continue their work. The owners of Los Candiles Restaurant similarly stated that the grant is a blessing, allowing them to expand and hire new employees after facing business challenges in recent years.
The awards bring the total investment through the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund program to $90 million, with approximately one-third of the funding going towards these 58 selected projects.
chicago's neighborhood opportunity fund is doin somethin right awardin 33 mil to 58 businesses & orgs across da city 
funkytown brewery got 3.7 mil for dat new operation, institute for nonviolence got 4.8 mil to build a gun violence prevention center 
los candiles restaurant in little village got 96k to expand & hire more peeps 
feels like dis is gonna make a diff in da community 
like, imagine all those businesses and orgs getting a boost, it's def gonna help create more jobs and opportunities in the city 
and it's awesome that mayor brandon johnson is supporting the arts and community efforts too 
the funkytown brewery getting 3.7 mil is insane though, i mean who doesn't love craft beer? 
but for real tho, these grants are gonna make a huge difference in the neighborhoods of chicago and i'm hyped to see what all the recipients come up with 
of what's goin' down in Chicago, and this Neighborhood Opportunity Fund program is a big deal! $33 million in grants for diverse businesses and orgs? That's like a shot of espresso for the local economy 
. It's dope to see Funkytown Brewery gettin' that dough to expand their operations - they're reppin' the Black-owned movement, and it's about time we saw more of that 
. It's all about investin' in our communities, creatin' opportunities for young people and artists to thrive 
. It's time for Chicago to shine, and I'm hyped to see what these grants will do 
!
just saw that chicago awarded like $33 mil in grants to diverse groups of businesses and orgs 
can you imagine having that kind of resources to make a real difference in your community? i think it's awesome that they're supporting local artists, young people, and neighborhoods that might have been overlooked. the fact that nearly 400 apps were considered before selecting just 58 winners shows how much effort went into this program 
some of the projects, like the intergenerational housing development and cultural resource center, are just genius 
i'm so glad to see chicago investing in its communities and people 
. and the community orgs like the Institute for Nonviolence? they're doing vital work and now they can take their message to the next level 
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with his praise for these recipients, and i'm loving that nearly 400 apps were considered before selecting the winners 
teny gross from institute for nonviolence sounds like a total boss 
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I think it's really interesting that the grants are supporting a wide range of businesses and organizations, from craft breweries like Funkytown Brewery to community-focused initiatives like the Institute for Nonviolence 
. I'm also glad to see that the grants are being used to support projects that will benefit various communities, such as intergenerational housing developments and cultural resource centers 
. Still, $33 million is better than nothing, I guess. Funkytown Brewery getting $3.7 million to expand its operations is awesome, but what about all the other small businesses that are struggling to make ends meet? 
The fact that nearly 400 applications were considered before selecting just 58 winners also raises some questions - isn't this process supposed to be more inclusive? 
. These grants are not just about throwing money at problems, they're about creating tangible change in communities 
And the Institute for Nonviolence getting 4.8 million to build a new HQ in West Garfield Park? That's straight up amazing!