Community Development Grant — Medium ($300K – $5M)
DPD Medium-tier reimbursement grant for substantial capital projects with budgets between $300,001 and $5,000,000. Citywide. Covers 50% of eligible costs. South/Southwest/West Side location is a scoring preference factor. Current cycle deadline: August 14, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Monthly webinars: July 8 (10 a.m.) and August 12 (10 a.m.).
Check an Address — Free Snapshot
See whether a specific Chicago address sits inside the area that unlocks Community Development Grant — Medium ($300K – $5M), alongside every other incentive that touches that parcel.
For-profit businesses, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and developers in good standing with the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago, undertaking a capital project at a Chicago address with documented site control. Project must demonstrate community benefit (jobs created/retained, service expansion, or neighborhood impact).
Community Development Grant — Medium ($300K – $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 project must be at a Chicago address.
Typical range · $300K–$5M reimbursement (50% of eligible costs)
- +Reimbursement grant from $300,001 to $5,000,000
- +Citywide eligibility — no corridor or zone gate
- +Covers construction, substantial rehabilitation, equipment, soft costs
- +Pairs with TIF RDAs, NOF, federal HTC, and most state credits (subject to standard stacking limits)
- 1Apply via the DPD Submittable portal
- 2Submit project pro forma, financing stack, narrative, and community impact analysis
- 3DPD reviews periodically; larger awards may require City Council approval
- 4Reimbursement disbursed against invoices after executed grant agreement
Discuss scope with DPD at (312) 744-4190 before applying via Submittable
- Project narrative + community impact statement
- Detailed pro forma including financing stack and source/use
- Itemized capital budget with three contractor bids for major scopes
- Construction timeline with milestones
- Proof of site control — deed, executed lease, or PSA with contingencies cleared
- Entity good-standing documentation
- Match documentation (most Medium awards require matching funds or owner equity)
- W-9, insurance, and any required environmental/zoning approvals
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
Tax Increment Financing captures growth in property tax revenue within designated districts and reinvests it into local improvements like infrastructure, streetscaping, and building rehabilitation. Chicago has 124 active TIF districts (Civic Federation, 2025).
TIF-funded reimbursement grant for permanent building improvements to commercial and industrial properties. Open on a monthly TIF-by-TIF rollout schedule (July 1-30 and August 1-30 windows open for eligible districts in those months). Administered by SomerCor.
Special Service Areas are localized taxing districts where businesses self-tax to fund enhanced services — streetscaping, marketing, security, facade improvements — within a defined commercial corridor. Chicago has 58 active SSAs citywide, each managed by a delegate service provider (a local chamber, EDO, or nonprofit).
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