A neighborhood grocery store will be developed in West Englewood through a $1.75 million Neighborhood Opportunity Fund grant approved by the Chicago City Council today.

The new funds will support a $2.9 million project by the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN) to transform a vacant, two-story building at 1211 W. 63rd St. into a Healthy Marketplace featuring locally-sourced produce and grocery items. The 7,000 square-foot complex will also include a sit-down café, space for visual arts displays, a community room, and offices.

The grant will primarily be used for rehabilitation and build-out costs, with up to $250,000 for local hiring subsidies. Seven permanent jobs and 23 construction jobs will be created by the project.

Founded in 1997, Inner-City Muslim Action Network is a nonprofit community organization that provides social services and operates a network of 42 neighborhood grocery stores across Chicago.

The Neighborhood Opportunity Fund uses zoning fees from downtown construction projects to provide grants that support neighborhood commercial corridors on the South, Southwest, and West sides. Projects with grant amounts exceeding $250,000 require City Council approval.

More information is available at www.neighborhoodopportunityfund.com.

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