Medium grants from $300,001 to $5 million are intended to support eligible commercial, cultural, industrial, institutional, social service and mixed-use projects. Grants are intended to support up to 50% of total project costs involving new construction, rehabilitation or both.

Private and non-profit developers, tenants and property owners are eligible to apply individually or jointly during competitive, semi-annual funding rounds. 

Medium grants are funded through proceeds from Tax Increment Financing (TIF), the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF), and the Housing and Economic Development (HED) bond. The source of funding for each Medium grant is determined at the discretion of DPD.

Funding is provided on a reimbursement basis with payments made at either defined milestones during construction or upon project completion.  At the discretion of DPD, funding may be offered as a loan rather than a grant.

More information is available on the Medium grant FAQ page. A comprehensive overview of Medium grant rules and regulations is available in the program manual.

Key Dates

Application opening: Monday, Aug. 12, 2024
Application deadline: 11:59 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 

Eligibility

Proposed projects must primarily comprise one of the following uses either independently or combined with another eligible use: 

• Commercial (office, retail)
• Cultural (museums, theaters, performance venues)
• Industrial and manufacturing
• Institutional (healthcare, education)
• Mixed-use residential (10+ units with 100% ground floor commercial use)
• Social services (workforce development, unhoused interventions, etc.)

All uses must be generally accessible to the public and should add to the economic vitality of the surrounding neighborhood, benefit the community, and meet a local need.  Projects must also be received as proposals, meaning construction of these projects must not be completed when the application is submitted.

Eligible grant uses include hard costs (construction), soft costs (pre-development) such as design and site preparation expenses, and acquisition costs. A full list of eligible and ineligible expenses is included in the program manual.

Medium grants can be used for projects anywhere in the City of Chicago; however, projects that are under construction or completed are ineligible for funding.

Applications are evaluated using criteria based on a project’s anticipated impact, location, site characteristics, uses, documentation and financing. DPD also reviews applications for potential issues related to zoning, design and historic preservation.

While not required, Medium grant applicants are advised to engage the services of real estate attorney, financial professional, architect, and at least one contractor.

Timing

Applications are reviewed at the close of semi-annual funding rounds, which typically occur in February and August. Grant finalists are generally announced within four to five months of the close of a funding round. All applicants are notified if their projects are or are not selected for funding.

Applicants whose projects are not selected may reapply for future funding rounds. Applicants may also contact DPD staff to request a deficiency letter outlining any issues, questions and concerns about a declined application.

Submissions

Medium grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis through the online platform Submittable.

Applicants whose projects are selected for funding must execute contractual redevelopment agreements with the City, which may require City Council approval. Projects receiving grant funding are subject to the City’s construction compliance requirements.

More information is available on the Medium grant FAQ page.