Stimulating Economic Growth in Vital Communities
reprinted from MacArthur Foundation December 9, 2020 | Grantee News | Chicago Commitment, Vital Comm
Published: December 9, 2020
Organizations in Chicago’s Vital Communities spur development to increase the power of residents as they advance socially beneficial projects. We awarded support to seven organizations for place-based initiatives, which strive to stimulate economic growth through community-driven plans. The awards also recognize the organizations’ responsiveness to their neighbors and communities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Endeleo Institute: $250,000 to expand organizational capacity through the addition of staff and consultants to coordinate development of the South 95th Street Corridor in the Washington Heights neighborhood.
Enlace Chicago: $125,000 in support of a comprehensive, place-based strategy in Little Village that addresses the dual challenges of racial inequity and economic recovery from COVID-19.
Latinos Progresando: $125,000 to catalyze investment, support local ownership of businesses, and improve access to public transit in Little Village and Marshall Square.
Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation: $250,000 to coordinate community planning efforts to attract investment and commercial development in the Auburn-Gresham neighborhood.
Northwest Side Housing Center: $250,000 to support COVID-19 relief efforts for community-based businesses, youth engagement, and neighborhood planning in Belmont Cragin.
Rush University Medical Center: $250,000 to support West Side United, which will facilitate economic development and address the urgent needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic on Chicago’s West Side.
South Shore Works Planning and Preservation Coalition: $125,000 to expand organizational capacity through the addition of staff and consultants to coordinate community relief and planning efforts during the COVID-19 recovery.
Supporting Organizations’ Infrastructure Needs
Additionally, infrastructure support organizations that provide planning, technical assistance, and research are essential to the success of place-based initiatives. To complement these initiatives, we made grants to organizations based on their potential to support an equitable recovery during and after the pandemic.
Chicago Community Loan Fund: $50,000 to support strategic financial planning and community lending.
Center for Neighborhood Technology: $100,000 to support additional staffing capacity.
Local Initiatives Support Corporation: $100,000 to assist COVID-19 recovery in several neighborhoods and to help facilitate the work of One Chicago for All, a community alliance advocating for equity across Chicago.
Metropolitan Planning Council: $100,000 to create and implement tools for planning, technical, and policy support to address the particular stresses placed upon the metropolitan region.?
United Way of Metropolitan Chicago: $100,000 to coordinate technical support to community initiatives within the organization’s Neighborhood Networks as they respond to the pandemic.