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
Compare the geocoded point for a Chicago address with the boundary used to screen Community Development Grant — Medium ($300K – $5M). A match is a location signal; review the current program source for the boundary's role and remaining criteria.
Published criteria — confirm with City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development
- Project located within Chicago city limits
- Capital project: new construction, substantial rehabilitation, or major build-out
- For-profit business, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, or developer LLC
- Total project cost $300,001 – $5,000,000 (Medium tier)
- Good standing with State of Illinois and City of Chicago
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 whether a specific address falls inside a mapped zone always depends on that exact address. The fastest way to check is to run a free snapshot for the parcel you have in mind — mapped coverage is a location signal, not an eligibility determination.
Citywide — eligible anywhere within Chicago city limits. No zone gate, but project must be at a Chicago address.
Range on file · $300K–$5M reimbursement (50% of eligible costs)
Current published terms as of 2026-07-02
- +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)
Application timing can change. Verify current availability and instructions with the administering agency before relying on this program.
Verify current status on the official source- 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
- Web
- Visit site ↗
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).
The Neighborhood Opportunity Fund provides reimbursement grants for commercial and industrial projects in underinvested neighborhoods on Chicago's South, Southwest, and West Sides, funded by downtown development fees. Mayor Johnson announced 11 new awardees in May 2026 ($5.5M).