Small Business Storefront Activations

The COVID-19 pandemic left significant increases in commercial corridor vacancy rates across the City. Brick and mortar businesses that relied on foot traffic to drive sales were particularly harmed as commercial corridors across the city saw major reductions in economic activity. 

Fourteen (14) community and economic development organizations were awarded grants as part of the Small Business Storefront Activation Program. These selected organizations worked with small business owners and landlords to provide rapid relief to small businesses by activating vacant storefronts into burgeoning business spaces. The goal of the Small Business Storefront Activation Program was to boost local spending and draw additional foot traffic to commercial corridors across the City. 

The Small Business Storefront Activation Program concluded on May 31, 2025. Questions? Contact BACP at BACPEconomicRecovery@cityofchicago.org 

2023 - 2025 Small Business Storefront Activation Program Grantees: 

  • Calumet Area Industrial Commission  
  • Coalition For a Better Chinese American Community  
  • DishRoulette Kitchen NFP  
  • Greater Chatham Initiative
  • Greater Southwest Development Corporation 
  • Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce
  • Midway Chamber of Commerce
  • Portage Park Chamber of Commerce
  • The Far South Community Development Corporation
  • The Magnificent Mile Association 
  • The Puerto Rican Cultural Center
  • Uptown United
  • West Town Chicago Chamber of Commerce

List of Storefront Activation Program Grantees 

Storefront Activation Program in action

Calumet Area Industrial Commission

Calumet Area Industrial Commission  

The Calumet Area Industrial Commission’s Storefront Activation sites have ended programming. For more information on this organization, visit: https://calumetareaindustrial.com 

 

 

Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community




Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community
 

The Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community’s Storefront Activation sites have ended programming. For more information on this organization, visit: https://cbcacchicago.org 

Dish Roulette Kitchen NFP

DishRoulette Kitchen NFP   

DishRoulette Kitchen’s Storefront Activation programming has endedFor more information on this organization, visit: https://www.dishroulettekitchen.com

Greater Chatham Initiative   Greater Chatham Initiative 

Greater Chatham Initiative’s Storefront Activation programming has endedFor more information on this organization, visit: https://www.greaterchathaminitiative.org 

Greater Southwest Development Corporation

Greater Southwest Development Corporation 

Greater Southwest Development Corporation’s Storefront Activation programming has endedFor more information on this organization, visit: https://greatersouthwest.org 

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce


Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce
 

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce’s Activation site programming has ended.  For more information on this organization, visit: https://www.lakeviewroscoevillage.org

Midway Chamber of Commerce

Midway Chamber of Commerce 

Midway Chamber’s Storefront Activation programming has ended. For more information on this organization, visit: https://www.midwaychamber.org 

Portage Park Chamber of Commerce

Portage Park Chamber of Commerce 

The Portage Park Chamber of Commerce’s Storefront Activation sites have ended programming. For more information on this organization, visit: https://www.portageparkchamber.org 

The Far South Community Development Corporation

The Far South Community Development Corporation 

The Far South CDC’s Storefront Activation site programming has endedFor more information on this organization, visit: https://farsouthcdc.org 

The Magnificent Mile Association

The Magnificent Mile Association

The Magnificent Mile Association’s Storefront Activation sites programming has ended. For more information on this organization, visit: https://www.themagnificentmile.com. 

The Puerto Rican Cultural Center The Puerto Rican Cultural Center 

The Puerto Rican Cultural Center’s Storefront Activation site programming has endedFor more information on this organization, visit: https://prcc-chgo.org 

Uptown United

Uptown United 

 

Uptown United’s Storefront Activation sites programming has ended. For more information on this organization, visit: https://exploreuptown.org. 

West Town Chicago Chamber of Commerce


West Town Chicago Chamber of Commerce
 

The West Town Chicago Chamber of Commerce’s Storefront Activation sites programming has ended. For more information on this organization, visit: https://www.westtownchamber.org/pop-up.