MESSAGE FROM CCLF’S PRESIDENT: FACING THE FUTURE
In January, the Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF) celebrated 34 years of bringing much needed capital and resources to low- and moderate-income communities throughout Chicagoland. The first quarter saw significant and rapid change at the federal level, but one thing hasn’t changed locally: CCLF remains committed to standing strong alongside the communities and people it […]
2024: CCLF YEAR IN REVIEW
The year 2024 has been another hugely successful year for CCLF! A total of over $31 million in loans were closed creating or preserving affordable housing and jobs or improving nonprofit facilities and supporting social enterprises. There were 38 loans closed with borrowers who developed 534 units of housing and 122,615 square feet of commercial retail and community facility spaces. These projects, along with social enterprise borrowers, created/preserved a total of 307 jobs.
RIBBON CUTTING FOR IT TAKES A VILLAGE BRONZEVILLE
Commemorating 20 years of childcare and education, It Takes A Village (ITAV), a CCLF borrower, held its ribbon cutting of their Bronzeville Academy at the old Hales Franciscan High School on October 22, 2024, at 4930 South Cottage Grove Avenue, one of its seven locations. On hand for the celebration were community leaders and elected […]
SPUTNIK COFFEE GRAND OPENING: A DREAM REALIZED
The dream of twin brothers, Vova and Greesha Kagen, has finally come to fruition – once roasting coffee in their kitchen, to now roasting coffee in their new 28,000 square feet building. After receiving a $1,750,000 construction and permanent loan from CCLF, they bought a building in the Brighton Park neighborhood that was slated for […]
CALVIN L. HOLMES: THIS IS GOODBYE
“It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.” Whether you know this song from the 1975 movie Cooley High or the Boyz II Men version in the 90s, the meaning hits home for me now as I turn the page on my almost 30-year career working for Chicago Community Loan Fund. I started out as […]
FRIEND HEALTH: IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED CARE
There are a few things in life that people should never have to worry about…food…shelter…healthcare. Unfortunately, in this country and in the city of Chicago, all three can have impediments to access for many residents in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Food deserts pose a hinderance to having fresh food within a reasonable distance of people’s homes. Mounting […]
CCLF RECEIVES SECOND MacKENZIE SCOTT AWARD
Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF) is honored to be a $15 million recipient of a MacKenzie Scott grant. Lightning does strike in the same place twice as Ms. Scott awarded CCLF $10 million four years ago. MacKenzie Scott is a trailblazer in the world of philanthropy because of her large unrestricted grants to nonprofits. She […]
CALVIN L. HOLMES DEPARTS CCLF, BOB TUCKER APPOINTED PRESIDENT
The Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF) is a 33-year-old Community Development Financial Institution and 26 of those 33 years, it was led by Calvin L. Holmes. After a long and successful career in community development, Calvin has decided to depart the house that he helped build. The CCLF board has appointed Bob Tucker as its […]
Departure of Calvin Holmes from Chicago Community Loan Fund, Appointment of Bob Tucker as President
2024 CCLF STAKEHOLDERS MEETING
Over 70 investors, funders, supporters, and staff joined the Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF) on Thursday, May 23, 2024, for the Annual Stakeholders Meeting at the Wintrust Conference Center in the Loop, which was the second in-person Stakeholders Meeting since the pandemic. CCLF President, Calvin Holmes, welcomed attendees and recognized that the growth of the […]
