Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced that applications for $2.5 million in Neighborhood Opportunity Fund grants will be available starting today. Launched earlier this year, the initiative generates funding from downtown development projects to support neighborhood commercial corridor growth on Chicago’s south, southwest and west sides.

“This second round of investments will support even more neighborhood entrepreneurs on Chicago’s south, southwest and west sides,” Mayor Emanuel said. “By linking growth downtown directly to growth in our neighborhoods we can create jobs and new community amenities and ensure the entire city of Chicago thrives for generations to come.”

The applications will be available at www.neighborhoodopportunityfund.com and are due on Dec. 22, 2017.

In June, the Mayor announced the first round of $3.2 million in funding through the program, which is going to 32 businesses across the city, including a vegan restaurant in Chatham, a plant nursery in North Lawndale and an art gallery in West Humboldt Park.

Read more ...

SPRINGFIELD – Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) issued the following statement in response to Governor Rauner’s signature of a pro-choice measure:

“In a victory for pro-choice activists, Governor Rauner kept his promise to protect a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions no matter what. When the governor threatened to change his position on this legislation, people across the state took action to remind him how important women’s reproductive rights are. Regardless of a woman’s income or any changes to federal law, every woman in Illinois should have the right to decide what is best for her health without government interference.”

###