Helping create communities where people thrive.
During a year of health challenges and civil unrest, CCLF ended 2020 as an organization better positioned to ensure capital continued to flow in low-income areas throughout Chicagoland. CCLF ended 2020 with nearly $97 million in loans outstanding to 179 customers working to create communities where people thrive. CCLF completed 48 loans totaling $24.2 million… Read more »
As the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged Chicago-area small businesses and nonprofits, CCLF delved into its resolve to support impacted businesses and communities. CCLF became a partner in several public emergency funding initiatives. Together Now: Chicago’s Fund to Rebuild Our Neighborhoods, a collaboration with the Chicago Community Trust and the city of Chicago, raised monies from the… Read more »
Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood is a historic community known as the home of the Union Stockyards. Located on the southwest side of Chicago, this is the neighborhood that author Upton Sinclair wrote about in the 1906 novel, “The Jungle.” After the stockyards closed in the 1970s, Back of the Yards became a community… Read more »
In December 2020, Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott released a blog post entitled “384 Ways to Help” announcing $4.1 billion in donations to 384 nonprofits across the United States, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. CCLF was among the 24 CDFIs included in the donations. Scott and her team undertook a rigorous, data-driven due diligence process to select… Read more »
CCLF has been selected to receive an award of $500,000 in unrestricted funds as part of Citi Foundation’s $15 million fund supporting the work of Community Development Financial Institutions. CCLF was among 30 CDFIs awarded nationwide, all selected based on their strong track record of serving small businesses owned by people of color and underserved… Read more »
CCLF received a $15,000 Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLB Chicago) Targeted Impact Fund grant in October 2020 to support those most impacted by the COVID-19 crisis as well as organizations that promote equity and opportunity for communities of color. Announced in August 2020, the $14 million Targeted Impact Fund grant program provided up… Read more »
On Saturday, July 25, 2020, CCLF’s President Calvin L. Holmes made an appearance on the WGN Weekend Morning News (Channel 9) with anchor Tonya Francisco during the 9:00 a.m. news. In the segment, Holmes presented CCLF and the fund’s initiatives supporting Chicagoland’s communities, particularly during the COVID-19 crisis. Click here to view the entire July… Read more »
Business in Chicago was forging along in the first quarter of 2020. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker issued a “stay at home” order for the entire state effective March 21, bringing everything to an abrupt new reality. At that time, when attentions turned toward the preservation of public health and… Read more »
Ed Sommer practiced law as a Financial Transaction Attorney with the Chicago-based firm Chapman and Cutler LLP for 36 years. During the course of his career, he worked on many types of negotiated debt transactions with a variety of different types of borrowers, lenders and credit providers, including Chicago Community Loan Fund. Although now retired,… Read more »
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBC) offered a COVID-19 Relief Program consisting of zero-rate advances and grants to support all of its member institutions and the communities they serve as it responds to the COVID-19 pandemic. CCLF, as a member of the FHLBC, submitted an application for Growing Home, Inc., a nonprofit organization… Read more »
On May 6 and May 7, Local Initiatives Support Corporation Chicago (LISC) presented the 26th Annual Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards (CNDA) for the first time as a virtual event. Three CCLF borrowers were among this year’s award recipients. Accion and the Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago earned The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award for Outstanding… Read more »
Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF) has been named administrator of the Cook County Community Recovery Fund, part of the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development’s Community Recovery Initiative. This fund is open to certain small businesses, “gig” workers and independent contractors located in suburban Cook County (outside the boundaries of the City of Chicago). Loans… Read more »
Chicago Community Loan Fund is committed to Chicagoland. We seek team members equally committed to providing accessible financing, strategic partnership and support to build thriving neighborhoods. Join CCLF’s team! Visit our Careers page and explore our rewarding opportunities.
New beams were launched May 2, 2018, in Chicago’s historic Pullman neighborhood when celebrants gathered for a “Wall Raising” – a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Pullman Community Center. Representatives from the Roseland Youth Center, Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives (CNI), and Chicago Community Loan Fund joined Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, 9th Ward Alderman Anthony Beale, Chicago… Read more »
Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives (CNI) is leading the resurgence of the historic Pullman Neighborhood. CNI has been chosen as the developer of Pullman Park with a mission to bring jobs, retail, affordable housing, and safe recreational spaces to the neighborhood. CNI celebrated another victory on October 23, 2017 with the opening of Potbelly Sandwich Shop on… Read more »
CCLF experienced a tremendously successful 2017. CCLF’s operational achievements and our social impact outputs have increased significantly compared to last year. The number of housing units created or retained jumped from 424 to 1,275, commercial real estate and community facility space rose from 38,125 sq. ft. to 415,745 sq. ft. and the number of jobs… Read more »
After two years of sustained effort, Dill Pickle opened the doors to its new and improved location in Logan Square on September 8th! The new storefront offers 10,000 square feet of space, nearly six times as large as the former location. It boasts hot food and salad bars, beer and wine selection, a deli counter… Read more »
Mayor Rahm Emanuel led the project announcement for The Hatchery Chicago, a $34 million food and beverage incubator, slated to open in East Garfield Park in fall 2018. Once constructed, entrepreneurs working out of their homes and shared kitchens will have a space where they can grow their businesses, resulting in wealth creation in East… Read more »
What do you do when you acquire a piece a land, secure predevelopment financing, create drawings, hire a general contractor and then the housing bubble collapses across the country and your bank’s letter of commitment expires? Bankruptcy, foreclosure, abandoned property are actions associated with such a scenario, but that was not case for Reverend Michael… Read more »
On September 13th the CCLF office was at capacity with community stakeholders working to reduce crime and blight in Chicago – joining The City of Chicago and CCLF were Rush University Medical Center, MB Financial Bank, Cook County Land Bank, CARA, Safer Foundation, Community Investment Corporation, 20th Ward Alderman Willie Cochran, 27th Ward Alderman Walter… Read more »
In 1987, a man named Mark Ennis commuted through North Lawndale every day witnessing the devastating effects the abandoned properties was having on neighborhood youth and families. In an effort to help the neighborhood, he decided to buy a six-flat to create better housing for residents at affordable rates and using local youth as workers. … Read more »
Don Duszynski and Sean Connolly are founders of Strata Investments, a real estate development company that rehabilitates vacant properties and creates affordable housing for families in Chicago Housing Authority’s Housing Choice Voucher Program. The company also offers properties to first time homeowners and renters. Their mission is to provide excellent affordable housing options in thriving,… Read more »
On October 13th, 500 community development professionals, civic leaders, CCLF borrowers, supporters and investors gathered to celebrate 25 years of helping create communities where people thrive. The event highlighted CCLF’s diverse range of customers in a variety of ways. It took place at the Stony Island Arts Bank, a CCLF customer site. The Arts… Read more »