Community Development Grant — Medium ($300K – $5M)
Citywide reimbursement grant for qualifying real-estate development and construction projects requesting $300,001 to $5 million. DPD must confirm eligible costs and financing. Current application deadline: February 16, 2027.
Check an Address — Free Snapshot
Explore location-based incentives alongside Community Development Grant — Medium ($300K – $5M). This program requires a separate review of its business or project requirements.
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
- Grant request between $300,001 and $5 million; DPD confirms the required financing share
- 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 2026-10-09
- +Grant requests from $300,001 to $5 million
- +Qualifying Chicago capital projects; no SBIF/TIF or NOF zone gate
- +DPD reviews financing, eligible costs and any other public assistance
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 2026-10-09
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).
SomerCor administers TIF-funded reimbursement grants for permanent commercial and industrial building improvements. Applications follow district-specific monthly windows; confirm the current district calendar before applying.
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).
Reimbursement grants for eligible commercial and industrial projects in designated areas of Chicago’s South, Southwest and West Sides. DPD and the program administrator confirm project requirements and current intake.