Chicago Community Trust Distributes $6 Million for Local Projects
Six groups on the South and West Sides will use the funds to build health centers, business hubs, and food distribution facilities.
By Marco Alvarez ·
The Chicago Community Trust announced on November 2 that it is awarding nearly $6 million in grants to six community-led projects. The funding comes from the Neighborhood Capital Fund, an initiative intended to assist local organizations in converting vacant properties into spaces for residents. The investments target specific neighborhoods in Cook County, including Austin, Englewood, Little Village, North Lawndale, and West Garfield Park.
Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives received the largest individual grant of $1.5 million. The organization will use this money to develop the Austin HOPE Center, a planned 25,000-square-foot facility in the Austin neighborhood. The center aims to increase access to pediatric specialty care and behavioral health services. Stone Community Development Corporation, Lurie Children’s Hospital, and Thresholds are participating in the project to coordinate care efforts.
In Englewood, the Resident Association of Greater Englewood, known as R.A.G.E., secured $1.3 million to support The Re-Up development. This mixed-use project is located near 59th Street and Racine Avenue. The facility will function as the organization's headquarters, a community gathering space, and a restaurant. It is also part of a larger development plan for the 59th and Racine corridor. Another Englewood group, Dion’s Chicago Dream, received $800,000 to build Dreamville Campus. This 20,000-square-foot center will focus on food distribution and economic development, providing space for local entrepreneurs.
The Institute for Nonviolence Chicago will receive $1.25 million to construct its Peace Campus in West Garfield Park. The facility will combine violence intervention programs, workforce development, and behavioral health resources. The Little Village Chamber of Commerce is also a recipient, with $800,000 allocated for the construction of El Centro. This business resource and visitor center is designed to assist local entrepreneurs in expanding their operations.
New Covenant Community Development Corporation will use a $325,000 grant to complete its Business Innovation Center in North Lawndale. The center will offer business training, individual coaching, and shared workspaces to help residents launch businesses. The funding for these projects comes from philanthropic, corporate, and individual donors, including the MacArthur Foundation, JPMorgan Chase, and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
Christen Wiggins, director of community development at The Chicago Community Trust, stated that the investments reflect the vision of neighborhood residents. The trust designs the Neighborhood Capital Fund to close financing gaps for developments that address community priorities. The six projects aim to place greater control over neighborhood development in the hands of local organizations.
The grants support a strategy that relies on local leadership rather than outside developers. The funds are intended to create lasting community assets by bringing health care, fresh food, and business resources closer to home. The organizations will now begin the process of turning these financial investments into accessible services and physical infrastructure for their respective neighborhoods.
