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Small Business Storefront Activation Program is a grant program from the City of Chicago that funded community and economic development organizations to help small businesses activate vacant storefronts and revitalize commercial corridors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program awarded grants to 14 community and economic development organizations, which worked with small business owners and landlords to provide rapid relief by converting vacant storefronts into active business spaces. The goal was to boost local spending and restore foot traffic to commercial corridors across Chicago. Note: The Small Business Storefront Activation Program concluded on May 31, 2025.
Questions can be directed to the City's Business Affairs and Consumer Protection office (BACP).
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The COVID-19 pandemic left significant increases in commercial corridor vacancy rates across the City. Brick and mortar businesses that relied on foot traffic to drive sales were particularly harmed as commercial corridors across the city saw major reductions in economic activity. Fourteen (14) community and economic development organizations were awarded grants as part of the Small Business Storefront Activation Program.
These selected organizations worked with small business owners and landlords to provide rapid relief to small businesses by activating vacant storefronts into burgeoning business spaces. The goal of the Small Business Storefront Activation Program was to boost local spending and draw additional foot traffic to commercial corridors across the City. The Small Business Storefront Activation Program concluded on May 31, 2025.
Questions? Contact BACP at BACPEconomicRecovery@cityofchicago.
org **2023 - 2025 Small Business Storefront Activation Program Grantees**: * Calumet Area Industrial Commission * Coalition For a Better Chinese American Community * DishRoulette Kitchen NFP * Greater Chatham Initiative * Greater Southwest Development Corporation * Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce * Midway Chamber of Commerce * Portage Park Chamber of Commerce * The Far South Community Development Corporation * The Magnificent Mile Association * The Puerto Rican Cultural Center * West Town Chicago Chamber of Commerce List of Storefront Activation Program Grantees Storefront Activation Program in action **Calumet Area Industrial Commission** The Calumet Area Industrial Commission’s Storefront Activation sites have ended programming.
For more information on this organization, visit: https://calumetareaindustrial. com **Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community** The Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community’s Storefront Activation sites have ended programming. For more information on this organization, visit: https://cbcacchicago.
org **DishRoulette Kitchen NFP** DishRoulette Kitchen’s Storefront Activation programming has ended. For more information on this organization, visit: https://www. dishroulettekitchen.
com **Greater Southwest Development Corporation** Greater Southwest Development Corporation’s Storefront Activation programming has ended. For more information on this organization, vis it: https://greatersouthwest. org **Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce** Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce’s Activ ation site programming has ended.
For more information on this organization, visit: https://www. lakeviewroscoevillage. org **Midway Chamber of Commerce** Midway Chamber’s Storefront Activation programming has ended.
For more information on this organization, visit: https://www. midwaychamber. org **Portage Park Chamber of Commerce** The Portage Park Chamber of Commerce’s Storefront Activation sites have ended programming.
For more information on this organization, visit: https://www. portageparkchamber. org **The Far South Community Development Corporation** The Far South CDC’s Storefront Activation site programming has ended.
For more information on this organization, visit: https://farsouthcdc. org **The Magnificent Mile Association** The Magnificent Mile Association’s Storefront Activation sites programming has ended. For more information on this organization, visit: https://www.
themagnificentmile. com. **The Puerto Rican Cultural Center** The Puerto Rican Cultural Center’s Storefront Activation site programming has ended.
For more information on this organization, visit: https://prcc-chgo. org[](https://prcc-chgo. org%20/ "https://prcc-chgo.
org ") Uptown United’s Storefront Activation site s programming has ended. For more information on this organization, visit: https://exploreuptown. org.
**West Town Chicago Chamber of Commerce** The West Town Chicago Chamber of Commerce’s Storefront Activation sites programming has ended. For more information on this organization, visit: https://www. westtownchamber.
org/pop-up.
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Community and economic development organizations. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Unspecified Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
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Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
The Fund for Women & Girls Grant Program is sponsored by The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC). The Fund for Women & Girls, an initiative of TFEC, makes grants to local nonprofit organizations in specific South Central PA counties. The grants support projects that advance the lives of women and girls by providing opportunities to address basic needs, develop economic self-sufficiency, and strengthen health and safety needs.
VGF grants will be used to develop and/or support community-based entities to recruit, manage, and support volunteers. CNCS seeks to fund effective approaches that expand volunteering, strengthen the capacity of volunteer connector organizations to recruit and retain skill-based volunteers, and develop strategies to use volunteers effectively to solve problems. Specifically, the VGF grants will support efforts that expand the capacity of volunteer connector organizations to recruit, manage, support and retain individuals to serve in high quality volunteer assignments.Applicants that receive funding under this Notice may directly carry out the activities supported under the award, or may carry out the activities by making sub-grants to community-based entities, supporting volunteer generation at these entities.). Funding Opportunity Number: AC-05-25-21. Assistance Listing: 94.021. Funding Instrument: G. Category: O. Award Amount: $6.1M total program funding.