The City of Chicago’s Neighborhood Opportunity Fund will reopen for grant applications up to $250,000 starting Monday, March 8, with more than $4 million in funding available for small businesses, non-profits and cultural institutions on the West, Southwest and South sides.
The deadline for applications is Friday, April 9.
The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) program supports private rehabilitation and construction projects that add economic vitality to neighborhood commercial corridors and support local needs.
A map of eligible areas and application details can be found on the program’s website, www.chicago.gov/nof.
DPD will host several virtual informational sessions to help potential applicants prepare for the submission process.
NOF Info Sessions — English
Noon, Friday, March 5 | Register on Zoom or Live Stream on YouTube
11:30 a.m., Monday, March 8 | Register on Zoom or Live Stream on YouTube
10:30 a.m., Monday, March 15 | Register on Zoom or Live Stream on YouTube
NOF Info Sessions — Spanish
3 p.m., Monday, March 8 | Register on Zoom or Live Stream on YouTube
10 a.m., Thursday, March 11 | Register on Zoom or Live Stream on YouTube
The Neighborhood Opportunity Fund was established in 2016 to allocate zoning fees from downtown construction projects toward business projects along West, Southwest and South side commercial corridors.
Grants may be applied toward costs including building rehabilitation, new construction, design, site acquisition and preparation, technical services and other expenses.
To date, the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund program has committed $55 million in financing to about 180 active and completed project across the West, Southwest and South sides of Chicago.