West Side United provides funds to small businesses in the community
PHOTO COURTESY OF WEST SIDE UNITED
James Diggs has been the owner and operator of Tidy Up Experts for seven years. The commercial cleaning business, which is located on the city’s West side, currently has three contracts in Garfield Park and two in North Lawndale. Tidy Up Experts also employs youth and trains them on janitorial and cleaning work.
Diggs wanted to apply for the West Side United’s Small Business Grant because he wanted to help revitalize the community. His goal is to hire within the community and acquire contracts within the community. Diggs also wanted to do his part to raise the life expectancy of the residents on the West Side, which also is one of West Side United’s goals.
Diggs is one of 40 small business owners who received $10,000 as part of the West Side United’s 2022 Small Business Grant. This is the fifth cohort of grant recipients which gives access to coaching and training opportunities from Allies for Community Business, an organization that helps entrepreneurs grow their businesses with a goal to create jobs and build wealth.
“The barriers to neighborhood wellness and vitality extend far beyond the health sector. That’s why we’re taking a holistic approach towards building community health, increasing economic activity and addressing inequality by using a cross-sector, place-based strategy,” Ayesha Jaco, Executive Director of West Side United, said in a release. “Grant winners will be able to use these unrestricted funds to hire and train more staff, invest in equipment and facilities, and support innovative marketing strategies, so they can thrive and strengthen the West Side neighborhoods where they are located.”
Sanita Lewis, Director of Anchor Mission West Side with West Side United, said the organization spoke with businesses and anchor institutions which included hospital partners to identify where the needs are, in terms of vendor needs and contract opportunities. Lewis also sought the advice of the working group, which consists of people who live, work or own businesses on the West Side.
The priority industries for the grant include legal services, accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, janitorial services, repair and maintenance, landscaping services, real estate, human resources consulting, marketing consulting, advertising and public relations, translation and interpretation, waste management and remediation services, as well as HVAC contractors.
Those eligible for the grant had to be a West side business and meet the revenue requirement of less than $100,000.
“We want to build an ecosystem, we’re not just helping the business, we’re helping the community thrive and helping the economic vitality of West side communities,” Lewis said.
Diggs wants to use the grant money to buy better equipment and provide employment to the people in the community. He currently employs four people from the community that work in Garfield Park and one resident that works in Aurora. West Side United also has connected Diggs and Tidy Up Experts to hospitals for contracts.
“West Side United really has helped me out, just to be able help the people and give them jobs. I love the community and working with my neighbors and they are really helping me do that,” he said.
Lewis acknowledged that Diggs and his business are an example of what West Side United wants to do with the grant program and all of the businesses that receive the funds.
“This is a full circle of services. So, we’re not just helping James, we’re helping that employee that he gave a job to. We’re also creating more opportunities for more jobs, and more opportunities for more contracts will create lead to more work for everyone involved,” she said, adding that she is looking forward to seeing how much Diggs’ business grows.
Lewis wants to encourage businesses within the community to apply for the grant program. Even if they are not eligible for the grant program, West Side United has cohorts that will help businesses grow, focus on their marketing, or focus on their financials. West Side United wants to pull businesses within the community in however they can.
For more information about the West Side United’s Small Business Grant, visit www.westsideunited.org.
Latest Stories
- CTU Gathers with Faith-based Leaders to Highlight Recent Tentative Agreement Wins for Students and Educators
- COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER KISHA MCCASKILL TAKES CENTER STAGE AS SOUTH SUBURBAN COMMUNITY UNITES FOR A GREENER FUTURE
- RICH TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR CALVIN JORDAN LEADS HEARTWARMING SPRING CELEBRATION FOR HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES WITH “EASTER JAMBOREE” CELEBRATION
- Local Musician’s Career Spans 50 Years
- Have Questions About Money? The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office Can Help
Latest Podcast
STARR Community Services International, Inc.
