As a part of Chicago Recovery Plan, The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) is launching the Equitable Transit Oriented Development (ETOD) Pre-Development Grant Program.
Donor Name: City of Chicago
State: Illinois
City: Chicago
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/14/2023
Size of the Grant: up to $150,000
Grant Duration: 12 months
Details:
The primary goal of this program is to build the pipeline of shovel-ready, investment-ready ETOD projects that meet community priorities.
The ETOD Pre-Development Grant Program is being launched in recognition that community groups, local businesses, and grass-roots organizations across Chicago are exploring equitable transit-oriented development proposals but may lack the financial resources and technical expertise to move their ideas to development stage. While many projects have strong missions and visions, they often need support undertaking the many planning and pre-development activities that are essential for projects to access additional funding and ultimately get built. Organizations based on the South and West sides of the City, which face systemic barriers to both accessing capital and were disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, are especially in mind.
Funding Information
To address these needs, the ETOD Pre-Development Grant program will grant up to $150,000 to eligible organizations to execute planning and pre-development activities for ETOD initiatives during a twelve-month period (with the opportunity for extension).
Eligible Projects
- Residential real estate projects (e.g. affordable housing, co-operative housing); and
- Commercial real estate projects (e.g. neighborhood retail, community kitchens, neighborhood centers);
- Mixed-use real estate projects (e.g. artist live/work spaces, community hubs)
Eligible Expenses
ETOD Pre-Development Grant awardees will be able to get funding for the activities that take place before projects are ready to move into the development phase, for example:
- Creating a clear project scope
- Hiring a project manager
- Refining design and engineering documents
- Creating detailed project cost estimates
- Establishing a financial proforma
- Confirming the project site is compatible with zoning rules
- Paying for essential due diligence costs (e.g. land title search, legal fees)
ETOD Criteria
Equitable:
- Centers the leadership of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC);
- shaped through intentional community engagement;
- maximizes the benefits and minimizes the burdens to communities impacted by racial, climate, or health inequity;
- promotes universal accessibility for people with disabilities;
- and explicitly and intentionally advances racial, climate, and health equity.
Transit-Oriented Development:
- Near at least one public transportation access point such as bus (CTA or Pace Pulse) or train (CTA or Metra);
- provides access to multiple modes of transportation;
- designed to increase transit ridership;
- aims to improve sidewalk safety, walkability and bicycling; and
- promotes shared use mobility (car share, bike share, scooter share, rideshare).
For more information, visit Pre-Development Grant Program.
