Mayor Johnson Announces $30 Million in Community Development Grant Awards

A Washington Park health center, a Riverdale nutritional facility and a South Lawndale learning center are among $148 million in proposed construction projects citywide that will be supported by Community Development Grants, Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) announced today.

"I am proud to issue this round of Community Development Grants in recognition of the local organizations, businesses, and development projects that are revitalizing our communities," Mayor Brandon Johnson said. "These grants will help neighborhood visionaries achieve their goals for community improvements where they are needed most. We look forward to seeing their projects completed and further supporting equitable growth throughout Chicago."

Totaling approximately $30 million, the grants will support 14 projects with eligible construction and rehabilitation costs, site preparation needs, and related expenses.

"The grants are making dreams come true where they're needed most: on the commercial corridors that neighborhoods depend on for convenient goods, services, cultural amenities, entertainment and jobs," DPD Commissioner Ciere Boatright said.

The selected projects include:

• After School Matters, 1065 N. Orleans St., Near North Side
  $5 million to create a $25.9 million Orleans Teen Center that will provide educational, cultural and recreational opportunities for youth and young adults.
• Black Ensemble Theater, 4450 N. Clark St., Uptown
  $2.43 million to improve an existing performing arts complex with a $5 million, 150-seat studio theater.
• Blue Azul, 7950 S. Emerald Ave., Auburn Gresham
  $3.7 million to build a fitness center, mental health clinic, basketball court and other amenities projected to cost $7.9 million.
• Carole Robertson Center for Learning, 2929 W. 19th St., South Lawndale
  $1.15 million to renovate an early care and education center with $11.47 million in improvements.
• Mayfair Arts Center, 8701 S. Bennett Ave., Calumet Heights
  $792,000 to improve and expand the headquarters for the Chicago Human Rhythm Project and Mayfair Performing Co, with total project costs estimated at $1.2 million.
• Sunshine Community Health Center, 6016 S. King Drive, Washington Park
  $5 million for construction of a 77,050-square-foot, $38.4 million recreational facility and community center.
• TCA Health Nutrition Innovation Center, 1029 E. 130th St., Riverdale
  $5 million to build a 9,992-square-foot health center addition that includes food sales and nutritional resources, with total project costs estimated at $13.3 million.
• The K Entrepreneurship Hub, 4400 W. Madison St., West Garfield Park
  $1.5 million to repurpose a vacant building as a $4.1 million social innovation hub.
• The Re-Up, 1158 W. 59th St., Englewood
  $2.5 million to revitalize an existing commercial building with office space, a restaurant and a security training facility projected to cost $6.16 million.
• Ujima Hive, 6529-33 S. Stewart Ave., Englewood
  $1.81 million to repurpose a former school building as an $11.3 million education and community center.

First-ever pre-development grants for four additional projects will support eligible design and engineering fees, among other soft costs. The pre-development projects include:

• Cara Collective Community Hub, 6027 S. Wentworth Ave., Englewood
  $150,000 for a proposed $11.9 million, 13,000-square-foot workforce development complex that would serve 2,000 people annually.
• CTRL Kitchen, 4551 W. Fulton St., West Garfield Park
  $150,000 for a proposed $2.7 million, 8,600-square-foot commercial kitchen.
• The Englewood Emerald, 6855 S. Emerald Ave., Englewood
  $150,000 for a proposed rehab of a historic neighborhood building as an $8.59 million food hall, banquet space and business incubator.
• Garden to Table Farm, 1431-41 S. Harding Ave., North Lawndale
  $150,000 for a proposed $516,000 buildout of an existing neighborhood farm.

Finalists were selected from 242 proposals submitted to the City in the second round of submissions in 2024. All applications were evaluated for location, neighborhood equity, readiness, community benefits, and other criteria.

Community Development Grants are funded through proceeds from Tax Increment Financing (TIF), the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF) and the Housing and Economic Development (HED) bond. Funding is distributed incrementally to awardees as individual project phases are completed.

For more information on Community Development Grants, visit Chicago.gov/CDG.