NORTH AUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTER RIBBON CUTTING
Chicago is a city of 77 neighborhoods. As in most large cities, some neighborhoods are more economically stable than others. In order to combat the decline in some communities, Mayor Lori Lightfoot created Invest South/West to re-activate neighborhood cores. One of the neighborhoods in this community improvement initiative is Austin on the city’s West Side. […]
BRONZEVILLE LAKEFRONT INFRASTRUCTURE GROUNDBREAKING
After sitting vacant for 15 years, the site where Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center once stood finally is being redeveloped. In late March, the Bronzeville Lakefront Infrastructure groundbreaking near Chicago’s southside lakefront took place; it was long overdue. Chicago is known for its topnotch medical facilities. For many years Michael Reese was considered one […]
MESSAGE FROM ROBERT TUCKER, COO & EXECUTIVE VP OF PROGRAMS AND INTERIM PRESIDENT
At the start of 2023, CCLF was extremely busy, experiencing an increased demand for its lending products, technical assistance and programmatic leadership. Although this flurry of activity came at a time when our trusted leader, Calvin L. Holmes, was on an extended leave, CCLF’s brilliant, hard-working and innovative staff made sure that the organization continued […]
2022 IN REVIEW: CCLF WHEN OPPORTUNITIES MEET DETERMINATION, COMMUNITIES GROW
After putting the worst of the pandemic behind us, 2022 was an outstanding year for CCLF to satisfy its mission of “providing flexible, affordable and responsible financing and technical assistance for community stabilization and development efforts and initiatives that benefit low- to moderate-income neighborhoods, families and individuals throughout metropolitan Chicago.” CCLF closed 26 loans totaling […]
CALVIN HOLMES HONORED WITH THE BANK OF AMERICA NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDERS: RACIAL EQUITY AWARD
Since 2004, Bank of America, one of the world’s leading financial institutions, has recognized nonprofits who have played a role in changing the landscape of communities throughout the nation by investing in underserved neighborhoods to advance economic mobility through their signature philanthropic programs Neighborhood Builders Award. In 2022, they added an extension to the award […]
TULSA TOUR OF CHICAGO’S CDFI COMMUNITY
On an exceptionally warm day in November, CCLF hosted a group of engaged Tulsa, Oklahoma residents interested in creating a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) on a tour of community development projects financed by Chicago’s CDFI community. Chicago CDFI leaders hosting the group included Calvin Holmes, President, CCLF; Vickie Lakes-Battle, Executive Director – Chicago Metro […]
CCLF AND THE RVP CONFERNCE 2022 BUS/BIKE TOUR
Since 2007, the Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference (RVP) has brought people together from around the country to discuss the latest in community development, whether they are from urban, suburban or rural communities. This year, Chicago played host to this well-regarded event and displayed its accomplishments to attendees. The 3-day event featured prominent keynote speakers such […]
DINING AND ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX REVITILIZING SOUTH SHORE
Chicago’s South Shore community was once the Gold Coast of the south side. It had everything a middle-class community needed: beautiful homes, a bustling business district, first-rate schools, theaters, beaches for all to enjoy, and of course, the neighborhood gem, the country club. Now, like so many neighborhoods in Chicago, South Shore is a community […]
MAYWOOD SUPPORTIVE LIVING RIBBON CUTTING
As we age, having a comfortable and affordable place to live becomes extremely difficult.According to the American Community Survey 5-Year estimates for 2019, the median household income for older adults in Cook County was $42,287 compared to $64,660 for all households. The growing number of older adult renters with low-incomes in Cook County points to […]
HOLLYWOOD OF THE MIDWEST
In recent years, the television and film industry has selected Chicago for major productions like Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago PD, The Chi, Power Book IV: The Force, Empire, Fargo, The Trial of the Chicago 7 and many more. According to the Chicago Film Office, 1,100 feature films and television productions have been filmed in […]
