Community Development Grant — Small (≤ $250K)
DPD's flagship reimbursement grant for capital projects across all 77 Chicago community areas. The Small tier funds projects up to $250,000 at 75% of eligible costs. Funded by HED bond. Citywide — no corridor or zone gate. Current cycle deadline: August 14, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
Check an Address — Free Snapshot
Compare the geocoded point for a Chicago address with the boundary used to screen Community Development Grant — Small (≤ $250K). 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 (all 77 community areas eligible)
- Capital project: new construction, substantial rehabilitation, build-out, or equipment installation
- For-profit business, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, or developer LLC
- Total project cost up to $250,000 (Small tier)
- Good standing with State of Illinois and City of Chicago
Community Development Grant — Small (≤ $250K) 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 the project address must be in Chicago.
Range on file · Up to $250,000 (75% of eligible costs)
Current published terms as of 2026-07-02
- +Reimbursement grant up to $250,000
- +Citywide eligibility — no corridor or zone gate
- +Covers capital costs: construction, rehab, build-out, equipment, soft costs
- +Pairs with NOF, SBIF, and most state/federal incentives (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 + scope of work
- Itemized capital budget with contractor estimates
- Project timeline (completion within program window)
- Proof of site control — deed, lease (≥5 yrs remaining), or owner consent letter
- Entity documentation (business license, 501(c)(3) determination, or developer LLC docs)
- Good-standing verification with State of Illinois and City of Chicago
- W-9, certificate of insurance, and matching-funds documentation (if applicable)
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
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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.
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