The COVID-19 pandemic has left many small businesses experiencing financial hardship. Businesses that rely on foot traffic to drive sales were particularly harmed as commercial corridors across the city saw major reductions in economic activity. At the same time, operating costs for both established and new businesses have increased. As a result, small businesses in commercial corridors have yet to fully recover from the pandemic. This is evidenced by significant increases in commercial corridor vacancy rates across the city.   

This program seeks to revitalize commercial corridors and support small businesses, with a particular focus on communities that have experienced significant economic disruption and displacement, specifically South Lawndale. The goal is to mitigate the effects of such disruptions by fostering economic stability and preserving the unique cultural and commercial fabric of the neighborhood. 

Through this RFP, BACP is looking for one local community and economic development organization, such as a chamber of commerce, community development corporation, or other qualifying not-for-profit (501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6)) organization, to implement programming that gets small businesses into vacant storefronts within the City, specifically in the South Lawndale Community area in/around the 26th Street Commercial Corridor. 

For more information and to view this RFP, visit the City’s eProcurement website and search by RFP #57044.   

Requests for Proposal submissions must be completed and submitted through iSupplier by October 8th, 2025 at 12:00PM (Noon) CDT.     

Register for the September 19th Pre-submittal conference: ZOOM LINK  

Questions? Please email BACPEconomicRecovery@cityofchicago.org    

This initiative is funded by the Road to Recovery Plan using funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Recovery Fund (LFRF) Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 21.027.