Special Service Area #32 2010 Summer Updates
Cheryl Johnson
Published: August 6, 2010
1. 10 Week Façade Enhancement Project
Under the direction of C. Johnson, five architectural interns (from the University of Illinois at Chicago) spent ten weeks working on potential new designs for local businesses. McBride Kelley Bauer Architects, a certified architectural firm and community partner worked closely with the interns in finalizing design options. Designs were based on the owners’ interests, the designers’ vision, the city’s regulations and the overall financial feasibility for each business.
In the summer of 2010, the eight businesses that participated in the façade enhancement program included: LA Styles, Nick’s Gyros, P&G Shoe Repair, Selvam Medical Office, Shear Charisma, Soul Food Unlimited and The Impossible Dream. Of these seven businesses, two (Nick’s Gyros, and Selvam Medical Office) are participating in the Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) grant. The SBIF grant provides up to $150,000 for both exterior and interior renovations to any business within the 79th Street business corridor.
2. Business Breakfast Workshop
The Business Breakfast Workshop was held on June 10th at the Northern Trust Bank. The goal of the workshop was to provide the small business owners on 79th street business corridor with information on how to obtain grants and services to benefit their business and the community. John Mariane of the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection spoke on public way signage and guidelines, Dionne Baux from the City of Chicago Department of Community Development discussed the Façade Rebate Program, John Paulin and Derek Walvoord explained the new roll out offered through the Small Business Improvement Fund, and Cheryl Johnson presented an overview of the SSA#32 Program along with the Façade Enhancement Program. The workshop allowed small business owners the opportunity to obtain any information from the professionals on hand about business improvements.
3. SSA Directory Update
During the summer of 2010, three architectural interns from the University of Illinois at Chicago conducted a 4 week study of the 79th street business corridor. The information they gathered was compiled into a 20 page directory. The directory included the names, locations and phone numbers of all the 79th street businesses.
Posted in Business, Housing, Economic Development