Thanks for Plugging into

03/04/2021 - In this Issue: Neighborhood Opportunity Grant Fund Re-Opens -

C-PACE, a low-cost financing program launched by the City of Chicago in 2019, is expanding. C-PACE - Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy - allows owners and developers to access long-term financing from private capital to pay for green systems, creating long-term savings on energy and water costs. Counterpointe Energy Solutions, in a joint venture with Loop Capital Managing, is administering the City's program on behalf of the Chicago Department of Planning & Development.

Eligible property owners can borrow up to 25% of their property's appraised value, and loan repayments appear as a line item on the property tax bill, stretched out over the improvements' useful life. Eligible properties include commercial, industrial, retail, multifamily, and mixed-use properties and developments. C-PACE can be used to add energy-efficient lighting, water conservation projects, renewable energy sources, electric charging stations, and replace aging lead pipe service.

Learn More About C-Pace

The Chicago Plan Commission approved plans for the new Belmont-Cragin Elementary School at 6100 W. Fullerton Avenue. Located at the intersection of Fullerton and Meade Avenues, the project calls for new construction of a three-story school building and the renovation of the existing Riis Park Field House. 

Click to read "Plan Commission Approves Belmont Cragin Elementary School Development at 6100 W Fullerton Avenue in Belmont Central." 

Lukas Kugle - Chicago Yimby, 2/24/2021

A "Soul City Corridor" is envisioned for a part of Chicago Avenue. An art gallery, wellness lounge, and recording studio development project are slated for a corner at 5849 W. Chicago Avenue.  

Click to learn more from Austin News "New businesses coming to Chicago Avenue"

Zach Cunning, Austin News, 2/24/2021

The $150M Northwestern Medicine Project has been nudged ahead, with conditional support from the Old Irving Park Community Association and 45th Ward Alderman James Gardiner's approval. The outpatient medical center will occupy Sabatino Restaurant's former site and is just one of several developments planned for the Six Corner's area.

Click to learn more from Nadig Newspapers: "Alderman Gardiner supports $150 million Northwestern medical complex for former Sabatino’s block; Irving-Kilbourn traffic signal planned" - Brian Nadig, Nadig Newspapers, 2/17/2021

The City of Chicago's Neighborhood Opportunity Fund opens for grant applications from entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and cultural institutions on the South, West, and Southwest sides in March, with more than $4 million available.

In Spanish

Co-presented by Greater Southwest Development Corporation and NOF Staff

Co-presented by Little Village Chamber of Commerce and NOF Staff

Visit the program website - Application deadline is April 9th, 2021

be sure to click on: "Message clipped -  View entire message" to see entire issue..

The City's Department of Water Management has started Phase 1 of the Lead Service Line Replacement program. There are two programs for eligible homeowners who want to replace their service lines.

Homeowner-Initiated: The City will waive up to $3,100 in permit fees for any resident homeowner who wants to replace their lead service line. The waiver is not available if the request is made in conjunction with a structural renovation.

Equity Program: Residents with a household income below 80% of the area's median income may qualify for a free lead service line replacement. To qualify, water must persistently test over the Environmental Protection Agency's Action Level of 15 parts per billion of lead. The program is limited to single-family or two-flat homes that are owner-occupied.  Click here for more info' on lead service line replacement

Free Water Test Kits - Department of Water Management offers Chicago residents

free kits to test their water. Click here to fill out a form, or call 311

Click on addresses for details & interior photos. For pdf of currently

available space in all properties, click here or call (773)504-1200

The IRS recently announced greater flexibility, due to the pandemic, to employee benefit plans offering health flexible spending arrangements (FSAs) or dependent care assistance programs.

Employers now have flexibility in the following areas related to health FSAs and dependent care assistance programs:

Click here for more details and information

Changes to the Second Round of the PPP program boosted the number of successful applicants by 60% for companies with fewer than ten employees, The uptick clearly demonstrates the program's commitment to giving relief to smaller, Mom & Pop businesses, establishing racial and gender equity, and reaching out to low/moderate-income, and other under-served areas.

Program by downloading the First Draw PPP or Second Draw PPP loan applications and using the SBA Lender Match tool to find a participating lenders

For details visit cityofchicago.org/eProcurement

The Business Development Center at College of DuPage (COD) is accepting sealed bids and RFPs for goods and services. For listing and submission procedure, click here.

The Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) provides grant funding for permanent building improvements and repairs across the City. Offered by the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) to tenants and owners of industrial and commercial properties, SBIF grants are funded by Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenues in designated TIF districts citywide. 

Eligible participants can receive grants to cover between 30% to 90% of the cost of remodeling work, with a maximum of $150,000 for commercial properties and $250,000 for industrial properties. The grants, administered by SomerCor on the City’s behalf, do not have to be repaid.

Click to learn more about the program and open districts.

on Facebook: InBusiness - FYI Chicago - Chgo Property Investors

This eNews is produced by InBusiness/Chicago Visit our website.