Small Business Grants Portal
Small Business Owners have access to many grants!
Bridgeport and the South Loop are powered by hardworking, creative small businesses and entrepreneurs who help shape the character and momentum of our business community. The Greater Bridgeport & South Loop Chamber of Commerce helps business owners identify grant and funding opportunities, understand requirements, and navigate the application process with support from local, city, and state partners. Grant opportunities and deadlines are often updated. While the Chamber works to keep this page accurate, we recommend contacting us directly for the latest information.
Community Development Grant (CDG)
The City of Chicago helps support business and neighborhood vitality through Small, Medium and Large Community Development Grant (CDG) awards. CDGs use proceeds from the 2024 Housing and Development Bond and other funding sources to support a variety of eligible, business-related investments that create and maintain jobs and quality-of-life improvements for local residents.
Applications are open to business owners, property owners, non-profit organizations, community developers and entrepreneurs.
Commercial Corridor Storefront Activation
The Commercial Corridor Storefront Activation (CCSA) program is helping to revitalize 12 South and West Side business corridors through targeted improvements to underutilized and vacant commercial spaces.
Led by the Department of Planning and Development (DPD), the $30.5 million program is offering grants that fund up to 75% of eligible project costs for qualifying small businesses and property owners. In addition to funding for storefront improvements, each corridor has a partner agency and technical service providers to assist with business-related tasks such as marketing, accounting and business planning, as well as project-specific tasks that include design and permitting.
SBIF 35th Street/Halsted
The Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) provides reimbursement grant funding for permanent building improvements and repairs across the city.
Offered by the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) to tenants and owners of industrial and commercial properties, SBIF grants are funded by Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenues in designated TIF districts citywide. Program participants can receive grants to cover between 30 percent and 90 percent of the cost of remodeling work, with a maximum grant of $150,000 for commercial properties and $250,000 for industrial properties. The grant, which is administered by SomerCor on the City’s behalf, does not have to be repaid.
SBIF grants are not awarded on a competitive basis. Grants are awarded to applicants who meet eligibility criteria and follow program requirements.
Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF)
The Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF) provides capital development grants up to $250,000 for small business and cultural projects located along West, Southwest, and South Side commercial corridors. NOF grants are provided as reimbursement for up to 75% of eligible project expenses with a maximum grant of $250,000. Applicants may qualify for additional funding for Technical Assistance.
Funds are sourced from fees paid by downtown construction projects through the Department of Planning and Development’s Neighborhood Opportunity Bonus program.
