Community Development Grant — Large (> $5M)
DPD Large-tier reimbursement grant for catalytic capital projects exceeding $5,000,000. Citywide. Rolling application — no deadline. Replaces the legacy NOF Large Grant catalytic tier. Typically used for anchor development, large mixed-use redevelopment, and projects requiring City Council financial approval.
Check an Address — Free Snapshot
See whether a specific Chicago address sits inside the area that unlocks Community Development Grant — Large (> $5M), alongside every other incentive that touches that parcel.
Developers, large nonprofits, and institutional sponsors in good standing with the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago, undertaking a catalytic capital project at a Chicago address with documented site control and a fully-stacked financing plan. Large awards generally require City Council ordinance, public hearings, and a demonstrated catalytic impact on the surrounding community area.
Community Development Grant — Large (> $5M) is administered at the city level. Depending on the program, eligibility may depend on the specific location, property type, or business activity rather than a single drawn boundary.
Boundaries are precise and change over time, so exact eligibility always depends on the specific address. The fastest way to know is to run a free snapshot for the parcel you have in mind.
Citywide — eligible anywhere within Chicago city limits. No zone gate, but Large awards almost always require City Council approval which involves the ward alderperson.
Typical range · > $5M reimbursement (catalytic)
- +Reimbursement grant exceeding $5,000,000
- +Citywide eligibility — designed for projects too large for NOF or the Medium CDG tier
- +Covers construction, major rehabilitation, equipment, and qualified soft costs
- +Stacks with TIF Redevelopment Agreements, federal credits (NMTC, HTC), state credits, and Cook County classifications
- 1Discuss the project concept with DPD before formal application
- 2Submit complete pro forma, financing stack, project narrative, and community impact analysis via the DPD Submittable portal
- 3DPD reviews on a rolling basis; awards typically require City Council ordinance and public hearing
- 4Execute grant agreement and disburse reimbursement against invoices on completion milestones
Schedule a project concept meeting with DPD at (312) 744-4190 before submitting
- Detailed project narrative + catalytic impact analysis
- Full pro forma with sources & uses, debt service schedule, and operating projections
- Itemized capital budget with contractor bids and design documentation
- Project timeline with construction milestones
- Proof of site control with all contingencies cleared
- Entity documentation (developer LLC docs, partnership agreements, nonprofit determination)
- Match documentation (Large awards generally require substantial matching capital)
- Environmental assessments and zoning/landmarks approvals as applicable
- Community engagement record (letters of support, ward briefings)
This page is a starting point, not eligibility, legal, or tax advice. Verify current requirements, deadlines, and boundaries with the administering agency before applying or spending money — program rules and funding change over time.
- Phone
- (312) 744-4190
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Last verified 2026-07-02
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