The Neighborhood Opportunity Fund serves the West, Southwest or South Sides, NOF grant projects must be located on an NOF eligible or priority commercial corridor.
Donor Name: City of Chicago
State: Illinois
City: Chicago
Type of Grant: Grant | Reimbursement
Deadline: 02/14/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
NOF grants are provided as reimbursement for up to 75% of eligible project costs, maximum grants are $250,000. Both new construction and rehabilitation costs are eligible, as well as certain soft costs involving design and technical assistance.
Eligible Costs
- Eligible hard costs involve permanent building improvements, such as:
- Security measures, including cameras and associated electrical costs
- Site preparation, including clearing, demolition, earthwork, and environmental remediation
- Substructures, including foundations and basement
- Building shells, including roof, floor, exterior walls, windows, and doors
- Porches, patios, and exterior stairs
- Interior construction, including walls, doors, stairs, floors, and ceilings
- Finishing work including painting and millwork
- Building mechanicals and services, including electrical, plumbing, HVAC, fire protection, and elevators
- Public infrastructure (e.g., sidewalks, landscaping, storm sewers, and sight lighting) as part of a real estate development project
- Eligible soft costs include professional services corresponding to eligible hard costs, such as:
- Architectural, engineering, and design (e.g., feasibility studies, master planning, and design work).
- Project management fees (i.e., construction consultants assisting the applicant in completing their project after receipt of their Conditional Award Letter).
Eligibility Criteria
Non-profit organizations are eligible, provided the scope of the grant covers permanent capital improvements for a revenue generating project.
Ineligible Costs
Ineligible costs include:
- Uses or services that exclusively promote or incorporate religious teachings (e.g., after school programming with religious education)
- Furnishings, fixtures, and equipment (e.g., refrigerators, tables, desk chairs) that are not to remain at the project site for the lifetime of the business
- Expenses that only improve government facilities
- Expenses that only correct deferred maintenance issues (e.g., boiler system replacement)
- Expenses that only address building repairs compelled by a Circuit Court Order (e.g., ADA compliance)
- Expenses that only conduct minor structural/site repairs and improvements (e.g., outdoor patio resurfacing)
- Expenses that only conduct new surface parking lots (e.g., design, construction, resurfacing, etc.)
- Work completed prior to an applicant’s reception of a conditional NOF award letter.
For more information, visit City of Chicago.
