City of Chicago awards $33 million to dozens of businesses and organizations

Fifty-eight businesses or community organizations will share $33 million in development grants from the city of Chicago.

Mayor Brandon Johnson announced the grants at the Chicago Cultural Center on Monday.

“Each of you fuel our local economy and create opportunities for our neighbors, young people and artists that brings the potential of building more affordable, safer and thriving communities to fruition,” Johnson said.

The grant winners were selected through competitive application rounds through the city’s Department of Planning and Development Community Development Grant and Neighborhood Opportunity Fund programs, which will total $90 million in public-private neighborhood investments.

Department of Planning and Development Commissioner Ciere Boatwright said the 58 finalists were selected from nearly 400 applications, and collectively represent more than $90 million in public-private investment city wide, collectively covering about a third of the total investment. Some projects, she said, will receive about 75% of their total development costs.

“It’s my pleasure to announce DPD’s grant awards in support of exciting Neighborhood Improvement projects across the entire city, especially along major commercial corridors that mean so much to economic vitality and livability,” Boatwright said in a packed event hall at the Cultural Center.

Nine firms were selected to receive grants ranging from $500,000 to $5 million, including $1.3 million for the building of a content production studio in East Garfield Park; $5 million for an intergenerational housing development; $3.7 million for Funkytown Brewery, Black-owned craft beer brewery on the Near West Side.

The West Garfield Park-based Institute for Nonviolence was awarded $4.8 million to create a new $9.5 million headquarters for the nonprofit that focuses on gun violence prevention.

“This is a major, major project for the West Garfield community, which we know has the biggest life gap in the city of Chicago,” said Institute for Nonviolence founder Teny Gross. “We're so inclined to think law enforcement is the only one who reduces violence. The community has a big role to play ”

Four projects will receive “pre-development” grants up to $150,000 to support eligible design and engineering fees. Those projects will support the reusing of a former church campus as a cultural and social resource center in McKinley Park and renovating restaurants West Pullman, Bridgeport and Calumet Heights.

Another 45 improvement projects throughout the city were selected to receive “small grant” awards ranging from $51,800 to $250,000.

The owners of Los Candiles Restaurant in Little Village will receive nearly $96,000 to expand and hire new employees.

“This is a blessing,” owner Jose Luis Lopez said.

Over the last year, Lopez said he poured thousands of dollars in the restaurant that his parents started 30 years ago. But business declined as immigration enforcement agents targeted the neighborhood.

Business has started to increase. The money, he said, will allow him to build a seasonal outdoor space to sell tacos and serve specialty Mexican drinks like margaritas.

Lopez said the funds push him to do more.

“I don’t think there’s a better word than motivation. It gives us motivation. It’s like a dream come true to be honest with you,” he said.