As part of the Chicago Recovery Plan, the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) is accepting applications for grant funding for the Corridor Ambassador program. The program is seeking community-based organizations that will work with the City to hire and train community members to serve as ambassadors, creating a visible, welcoming presence at neighborhood commercial centers for residents and visitors.

See the below frequently asked questions (FAQ) for more information about the program. Don't see an answer to your question here? Submit your inquiry to dpd@cityofchicago.org. Additional answers will be posted to this page as DPD staff fields submitted questions; please check back periodically.

Timeline and Awards 

What time does the initial application period close?
12 p.m. (CST) Friday, March 10, 2023

When will I find out if I’m receiving an award?
Initial awardees are expected to be notified in April 2023.

How many awards will be made?
DPD expects to make approximately 5-8 awards.

Eligibility

Does a community area need to be both low/medium income and have a 15% decline in activity?
No. Community areas only need to qualify in one of the above ways. A full list of qualified community areas is included in the RFP.

Does the corridor itself need to record a 15% drop in activity?
No. DPD has already identified community areas that qualify. Applicants still need to document the needs of the corridor they’ve selected, but they don’t have to hit a specific qualifying metric if their community area has already qualified.

What should we do to demonstrate the need of the corridor?
Applicants should highlight:

• How the corridor has been negatively impacted by the pandemic (business closures, changes in foot traffic, etc.).
• The challenges the corridor faces that prevent people from feeling welcome and safe on a street (such as vacancies, areas of safety concern).
• The opportunity to benefit local businesses and community institutions by increasing activity and foot traffic (e.g., small businesses and community institutions on the corridor, ability to connect to major transit nodes).

The more you’re able to demonstrate detailed understanding of those specific blocks and their unique dynamics, the stronger your application will be.

For Special Service Areas, can the corridor extend beyond the boundaries of the SSA?
Yes — this isn’t funded with SSA dollars and isn’t a supplement or replacement for SSA services. Corridors also don’t have to include an entire SSA.

Can delegate agencies hire or contract with a third party to staff the program?
Yes. Ambassadors can either be hired by the delegate agency directly, or in partnership with another organization. Regardless of how ambassadors are hired, DPD stresses the importance of hiring local community representatives to serve as stewards of their corridor.

Can we rent a storefront or other space for ambassadors to store equipment, check in/out, etc.?
Given the size and cost of the program, DPD expects applications would be cost-prohibitive if they included storefront rent payments. Organizations are encouraged to be creative about using space they already have or contracting with businesses or other organizations on the corridor to access small amounts of storage space if necessary.

Can we hire oversight/supervisors? How should we account for their pay?
Yes. If a supervisor spends their day walking the corridor (serving the role of an ambassador, along with overseeing other ambassadors), it would be appropriate to pay them a higher hourly rate and account for their costs as part of the overall labor expenses. General back office administrative oversight is expected to be the responsibility of the grantee and would be paid out of the administrative overhead expense (capped at 10%).

Can we hire ambassadors as contractors (under 1099s)?
Yes. However, the delegate agency is responsible for ensuring all federal and state tax requirements are met.

Performance and Reporting

How will performance be measured?
Performance will be measured 3 ways:

1.  DPD will hire a program administrator to audit reporting and the physical presence of ambassadors on corridors.
2. DPD will expect at least monthly reporting from grantees on performance, including basic metrics (number of hours ambassadors were out, number of interactions with residents), success stories, challenges and lessons learned.
3. DPD will use other data sources to evaluate end outcomes for the corridor (including foot traffic and CPD beat data).

Can you share more details on reporting requirements?
Standard requirements of federal grants including accounting for dollars spent and tracking the outcomes of programs. Grantees will be expected to keep accurate financial records and to report on general program metrics (number of hours worked by ambassadors per month, interactions with the public, etc.). The city has a defined process for federal grant reporting and will work with grantees to make as easy as possible.

In addition to delegate reporting, the city will be conducting larger program evaluation work, such as measuring foot traffic and sales tax revenue.

Other

Can ambassadors share information or promote local events?
Ambassadors are expected to spend the majority of their time walking the corridor and greeting residents. That can include sharing information about upcoming festivals, events, etc., as long as it doesn’t distract from their presence on the corridor. Their primary role must be to provide a public presence on corridors, however, rather than to serve as community or event organizers.

How will the reimbursement program work?
For payroll expenses, using the City's web-based E-Vouchering system, we will offer expedited reimbursement. Applicants will be allowed to submit requisitions each pay period and it is mandatory that they are submitted at least monthly.​ Prompt documentation of incurred costs will be required.​ To effectively manage this process, a designated financial representative will be required to attend regular meetings regarding the reimbursement process on behalf of the grantee.

Can you share any more details about training and other supporting resources?
CPS will run training webinars similar to the safe passage training program in the run-up to the launch of the program. Grantees are expected to attend, along with ambassadors. Materials will be made available to grantees after that training, and they will be expected to communicate that training to subsequent hires (when CPS training sessions may not be immediately available). Agencies are also expected to design and conduct additional training based on the local needs of their corridors.

CPD will serve as a local partner at the district level DFSS offer details on nearby social support resources for Ambassadors to have on hand and share with residents.

DPD also engaged Heartland Alliance to provide monthly training for Corridor Ambassadors.

Will there be new RFPs in subsequent years?
DPD isn’t currently planning to issue a new RFP next year, but it’s possible depending on the level and quality of participation this year or changes in funding sources.