The Commercial Corridor Storefront Activation Program is a partnership between the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) and nonprofit community organizations to reduce commercial vacancies, catalyze small business growth and improve economic sustainability through a more hands-on approach to supporting existing and new businesses.

As part of the program, DPD issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) in April 2025 seeking applications from community and local economic development organizations, such as chambers of commerce, community development corporations, and other nonprofit organizations interested in acting as a delegate agency facilitating storefront activations in select community areas.

Selected organizations will ultimately be responsible for identifying a range of vacant storefronts on a target commercial corridor, identifying existing small businesses to potentially receive grants, communicating with building owners, gathering data and acting as a conduit between entrepreneurs and appropriate commercial spaces along the corridor. Applicants should also have a plan to connect these small businesses and commercial property owners with DPD, who will manage each individual grant project in the selected corridor.

The program will focus on building and sustaining local wealth in select commercial corridors in low-to-moderate-income communities. The program seeks to attract new businesses to vacant storefronts and create a model for long-term commercial sustainability by improving commercial spaces and providing ongoing, targeted operational support for local businesses. This program is part of the City's broader efforts to invest in catalytic development, expanding upon DPD’s existing support for commercial corridors.

Eligibility

Community and economic development organizations, such as chambers of commerce, community development corporations, and other nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply if they are located within the following community areas: Archer Heights, Armour Square, Ashburn, Auburn Gresham, Austin, Avalon Park, Beverly, Bridgeport, Brighton Park, Burnside, Calumet Heights, Chatham, Chicago Lawn, Clearing, Douglas, East Garfield Park, East Side, Englewood, Fuller Park, Gage Park, Garfield Ridge, Grand Boulevard, Greater Grand Crossing, Hegewisch, Humboldt Park, Hyde Park, Kenwood, Lower West Side, McKinley Park, Morgan Park, Mount Greenwood, Near West Side, New City, North Lawndale, Oakland, Pullman, Riverdale, Roseland, South Chicago, South Deering, South Lawndale, South Shore, Washington Heights, Washington Park, West Elsdon, West Englewood, West Garfield Park, West Lawn, West Pullman, West Town, Woodlawn.

RFP

Organizations interested in the Commercial Corridor Storefront Activation Program can download the RFP and submit applications via the City's iSupplier portal. (See DPD Solicitation #9889/Specification #1285526)

The application deadline is 12 p.m. Tuesday, June 3, 2025.

Prior to the application deadline, DPD is hosting an informational webinar at 2 p.m. (CDT) Tuesday, April 29. Interested parties can register now via Zoom.

Activation Guidance

Applicants should propose a mix of activation types along their selected corridor that best meets business and community needs. Applicants should provide examples that are feasible, with expressed interest from property and small business owners. For example, proposals could include:

• Renovations to vacant commercial spaces to attract new small business tenants.
• Renovations to commercial spaces with existing small businesses.
• Facade improvements to commercial buildings.
• Identification of new and existing businesses along the corridor that would receive support related to business matters such as marketing, financials, succession planning, business planning, etc.
• A large interior activation to create a shared space and/or business incubator in which multiple businesses lease space under a master lease (held by the selected respondent), if a corridor has a large vacant commercial property available.
• Two to three smaller interior activations to support small businesses offering needed products or services to the area, if a corridor has multiple smaller move-in ready properties available.
• One interior activation accompanied by art in the windows of two to three nearby storefronts, if a corridor has a mix of move-in ready properties and properties in poorer condition.
• A cluster of art displays and artistic signage promoting local businesses in the windows of multiple vacant storefronts, if a corridor primarily has vacant properties in poorer condition.

Questions related to the Commercial Corridor Storefront Activation Program can be sent to DPD@cityofchicago.org.