Six Community-Led Real Estate Projects That Will Bring New Opportunities to Underinvested Chicago Communities Receive Nearly $6M in Grants

Neighborhood Capital Fund grants will accelerate community-led progress on real estate developments across Chicago

CHICAGO (November 2, 2026) – Six community-led real estate projects bringing new amenities, services, and economic opportunities to underinvested Chicago neighborhoods are receiving nearly $6 million in grants from the Neighborhood Capital Fund (NCF). The investments will support projects that expand access to entrepreneurship support, health care, violence prevention services, nutritious food, workforce development opportunities, and neighborhood-serving commercial spaces in Austin, Englewood, Little Village, North Lawndale, and West Garfield Park.

Neighborhood Capital Fund provides grants that support the construction of catalytic real estate projects in underinvested communities in Cook County that address neighborhood priorities and create long-term community benefits. The fund has numerous donors and is led by The Chicago Community Trust, which connects people and resources toward a Chicago region where more people can build economic security, and more neighborhoods can access the investment they need to thrive.

“Neighborhood Capital Fund projects are rooted in community vision and leadership and reflect the priorities, wants and needs of local residents,” said Christen Wiggins, director of community development at The Chicago Community Trust. “These investments help neighborhood organizations create lasting assets that expand opportunity, strengthen local economies, and improve quality of life for residents, which in turn benefits the entire region.”

These grants were made possible through the support of philanthropic, corporate, and individual donors committed to advancing equitable neighborhood development and economic opportunity throughout Chicago. Lead donors to the Neighborhood Capital Fund include Driehaus Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Paul Angell Foundation, Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Schreiber Philanthropy, Target Foundation, The Joseph Pedott Legacy Fund, JPMorgan Chase, Development Now for Chicago, Knight Impact Partners, the Trust, and an anonymous donor. 

Projects that are eligible for NCF grants:

• Advance community priorities and neighborhood quality-of-life goals.
• Demonstrate strong community support and local leadership.
• Increase access to essential services, economic opportunity, or community assets.
• Revitalize vacant or underutilized properties or support expansion of existing assets.
• Benefit residents in historically underinvested neighborhoods in Cook County.
• Demonstrate project readiness and the ability to leverage additional investment.

Fall 2026 Neighborhood Capital Fund Grants

Resident Association of Greater Englewood (R.A.G.E.) | $1.3 million
Funding will support the development of The Re-Up at 59th and Racine, a mixed-use facility in Englewood that will serve as R.A.G.E.’s headquarters and feature a community-centered space, including a restaurant. This building will be an integral part of the upcoming R.A.G.E. Campus along the 59th and Racine Corridor.

New Covenant Community Development Corporation (New Covenant CDC) | $325,000
Funding will support the completion of New Covenant CDC’s Business Innovation Center in North Lawndale, a dynamic hub designed to help entrepreneurs start, strengthen, and grow their businesses. The Center will provide business education, one-on-one coaching, co-working space, and resources that promote business ownership, job creation, and economic opportunity in the community.

Little Village Chamber of Commerce | $800,000
Funding will support the construction of El Centro, Little Village’s Small Business Resource and Visitor Center, a transformative community investment designed to expand business training and resources, attract visitors, support local entrepreneurs, and strengthen the long-term economic vitality of Little Village.

Dion’s Chicago Dream | $800,000
Funding will support the development of the Dreamville Campus, a transformative 20,000-sq. ft. food distribution and economic development hub in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood. The campus will expand Dion’s Chicago Dream’s fresh food distribution and logistics operations while creating space for local entrepreneurship, quality job creation, and innovation, representing a long-term investment in neighborhood revitalization, improved health outcomes, and the infrastructure communities deserve.

Institute for Nonviolence Chicago | $1.25 million
Funding will support development of the Peace Campus in West Garfield Park, a community hub that will provide violence intervention services, workforce development support, behavioral health resources, and space dedicated to healing and peacebuilding.

Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives | $1.5 million
Funding will support the new 25,000-sq. ft. Austin HOPE Center, developed by Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives in partnership with Stone Community Development Corporation and Lurie Children’s Hospital. The center expands access to affordable, quality pediatric specialty and behavioral health care on Chicago’s West Side, with Thresholds, a leading behavioral health provider, helping advance coordinated care and community support. 

About the Neighborhood Capital Fund

The Neighborhood Capital Fund is a funder collaborative led by The Chicago Community Trust supporting community-based organizations to develop transformational real estate projects that create lasting neighborhood assets, strengthen local economies, and improve quality of life for residents. The fund helps close financing gaps for projects that advance community priorities and increase opportunities in Chicago neighborhoods. Learn more about the Neighborhood Capital Fund at www.cct.org/ncf.