Home
Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) Economic Recovery
The funding under the Road to Recovery Plan, which includes funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (“ARP”) and over $600 million in local bond funds, is allocated alongside all other available resources in the City budget to maximize this opportunity over the next 3 to 5 year funding period.
The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) is responsible for distributing approximately $50 million in funding in three focus areas: small business support, non-profit relief, and food equity.
Small Business
Storefront Activations
The goal of the Small Business Storefront Activation Program is to boost local spending and draw additional foot traffic to commercial corridors across the city. Selected community and economic development organizations will work with small business owners and landlords to provide rapid relief to small businesses by activating vacant storefronts into burgeoning business spaces.
Nonprofit Capacity Building
2024
During the pandemic, nonprofit organizations across Chicago saw a significant increase in the demand for their services without a comparable increase in their financial and operational capacity to meet that demand.
To ensure a strong recovery for nonprofit organizations, BACP has designed the Nonprofit Capacity Program.
Community
Growers
The Community Growers program will increase equitable community access to healthy foods by creating new food access points in neighborhoods experiencing food insecurity. Neighborhoods with residents that have lower-incomes have less access to healthy food and experience greater food insecurity and food-related illnesses. This program works to reduce the barriers to urban agriculture by supporting urban growers with access to land, resources to build long-term sites, and technical support.
Good Food
Fund
The Good Food Fund will support small food businesses operating in communities with limited access to food. Through this program the city will disburse $5 million in grants to food-businesses and provide them with highly specialized business coaching.
Food Business Food
Incubator
The Food Business Incubator Program provides a range of technical assistance and capacity building support for food entrepreneurs. Through this program small food-business owners will be able to access food stall rentals, kitchen and commercial space, retail pop-ups, co-working or office space, mentorship and more.
Small Business and Not-For-Profit Support Grant
The Small Business and Not-For-Profit Support Grant Program was designed to provide small businesses and nonprofits with funds to assist in recovering from economic losses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Small Business Capacity Building 2025
Capacity building is important for small businesses in Chicago as they continue to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure a strong recovery for small businesses, BACP has designed the Small Business Capacity Building Program.
 |
City Hall |