Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF)
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).
Check an Address — Free Snapshot
See whether a specific Chicago address sits inside the area that unlocks Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF), alongside every other incentive that touches that parcel.
Businesses and developers proposing commercial or industrial projects in eligible areas. Projects must create jobs or provide needed services in the community.
Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF) is tied to the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund geography — being inside that boundary is the first eligibility gate. A single address can fall inside several overlapping incentive areas at once.
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.
Typical range · $250K @ 75% reimbursement + up to $50K TA bonus
- +Up to $250,000 reimbursing 75% of eligible costs
- +Additional up to $50,000 (or 20%) technical-assistance bonus when paired with approved TA provider
- +Covers construction, renovation, and equipment costs
- +Priority for businesses serving the local community
- +Large catalytic projects now route through the Community Development Grant program
- 1Check if your project is in an eligible NOF area
- 2Apply via the DPD Submittable portal (English or Spanish)
- 3Provide project plans, budget, and community impact statement
- 4Rolling submission; evaluated quarterly
Call DPD at (312) 744-4190 about NOF eligibility, or start the Submittable application
- Completed NOF application
- Project budget and timeline
- Proof of property ownership or lease agreement
- Business plan showing community impact
- Contractor bids for construction/renovation
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.
- Check corridor eligibility and the current application round — City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development
Applications are evaluated in rounds and eligibility is corridor-based. Confirm the current deadline and the eligibility map before preparing materials.
- Finalist legal documents (EDS, affidavits, ownership chart) — City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development
Finalists complete an Economic Disclosure Statement, child-support and property-owner affidavits, and a principal profile on the program's schedule. The applicant or an authorized representative signs.
- Proof of financing after the Conditional Award Letter — City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development
After a Conditional Award Letter, finalists document their share of project financing within the program's stated window. Construction funds flow through an escrow with DPD-approved draws.
- Phone
- (312) 744-4190
- Web
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Last verified 2026-07-10
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).
Properties in Chicago Landmark Districts may access local preservation incentives. The City designates landmarks via the Commission on Chicago Landmarks (62 districts per the 2025 Landmarks Ordinance); the related Class L property tax reduction is administered by the Cook County Assessor — see the separate Class L entry.