Success Stories

Neighborhood Fresh Foods at Cultivate Collective 

 4942 W. 44th St., Garfield Ridge 

Grant $250,000

Cultivate Collective, a six-acre community and sustainability hub, opened on the site of the former Leclaire Courts public housing complex on Chicago’s Southwest side in October 2023. The center, which aims to holistically support area residents, includes a neighborhood market that was funded by a $250,000 Community Development Grant. The Neighborhood Fresh Foods Store fills a void in the area's grocery landscape and also sources produce from the on-site urban farm, increasing access to healthy foods. 

 

"We are immensely grateful to the City of Chicago and Department of Planning and Development for their generous support of our Neighborhood Marketplace in LeClaire Courts. This funding directly enabled a key aspect of Cultivate’s holistic community hub model that will provide fresh food to our residents in Southwest Chicago, in an area that is not within direct access to a grocery store.”

— Sarah Elizabeth Ippel, CEO, Cultivate Collective 

 

Vegan Now 2 Go 

1536 E. 75th St., South Shore 

Grant $250,000

The owners of legendary Chatham restuarant Soul Veg City were awarded a $250,000 Community Developnent Grant to open a new fast-casual concept, Vegan Now 2 Go in South Shore.  Vegan Now 2 Go focuses on serving up plant-based goodness for on-the-move customers. 

“I believe if we did not get the grant from the city of Chicago we would not be open at this location within a year’s time.”

-Arel Brown, Co-Owner, Vegan Now 2 Go

Junior Chefs Kitchen 

2448 N. Lincoln Ave., Lincoln Park 
Grant $250,000
Niki Cordell received a $250,000 Community Development Grant in 2023 to open her classroom and kitchen on Lincoln Ave. in Lincoln Park. The school features an open layout including a state-of-the-art teaching kitchen and a large space for classes and other events such as birthday parties. This location is just a starting point for Cordell, who is already working with Chicago Public Schools and hopes to expand to new locations in the South and West Sides in the future.  
“I’ve long dreamt of opening up a school to teach our youth the art of healthy eating and cooking, because these are essential life skills. Receiving a Community Development Grant helped make my idea a reality. Junior Chefs Kitchen was able to quickly open its doors in Lincoln Park, and it’s really going to be the blueprint for future locations,"
— Niki Cordell, Owner, Junior Chefs Kitchen.