WEST SIDE COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCES FILLMORE CENTER, A NEW DEVELOPMENT TO CREATE OVER 250 LOCAL JOBS IN NORTH LAWNDALE

WEST SIDE COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCES FILLMORE CENTER, A NEW DEVELOPMENT TO CREATE OVER 250 LOCAL JOBS IN NORTH LAWNDALE

The Revitalized Community Hub Will Feature a State-of-the-Art Laundry Linen Facility and Exclusive Spaces for Local Businesses

A West Side community-based partnership announced a new development called the Fillmore Center, a 169,000-square-foot revitalized industrial space in North Lawndale. Funded through a collaboration of partners, including the North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council, North Lawndale Employment Network, West Side United, Skills for Chicagoland’s Future, Chicago CRED, UCAN, and Steans Family Foundation (SFF), the redeveloped space will generate more than 250 local jobs and contribute over $9 million annually in earned income into the North Lawndale economy. Upon completion, the project will be placed into a Community Benefit Trust with support from The Chicago Community Trust, empowering North Lawndale residents to oversee profits from the building.

“We believe North Lawndale is a vibrant, thriving, and equitable community where all residents can lead healthy and prosperous lives, and by investing in projects like the Fillmore Center, we take a significant step toward actualizing this vision," said Heather Steans, Chair, Board of Trustees, SFF. “The Fillmore Center will serve as both a source of pride and a valuable resource for the residents of the community.”

The Fillmore Center is a central hub for businesses in North Lawndale. The anchor tenant, Fillmore Linen Services, will create 175 jobs and operate as a state-of-the-art laundry linen facility dedicated to servicing local hospitals. Additional center partners include Kribi Coffee, an innovative air-roasting coffee company, and Southside Blooms, a large-scale floral arrangement organization, with space reserved for two to three more tenants. Non-profit organizations, including North Lawndale Employment Network (NLEN), UCAN, Skills for Chicagoland’s Future, and Chicago CRED, will collaborate to facilitate the hiring and retention of West Side residents. This project, initiated by the nonprofit West Side United in 2017, aligns with the broader community goal of boosting employment opportunities in the local community.

"The Fillmore Center exemplifies the Steans Family Foundation’s dedication to significant business attraction and job creation in North Lawndale," said Patricia Ford, Executive Director of SFF. “Through strategic partnerships and targeted investments, we are proud to contribute to creating pathways to success for local residents."

“We are proud to pledge our unwavering support and enthusiasm for this project, which will have a significant positive impact on the people of North Lawndale,” said Jesse Green, Executive Director of North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council (NLCCC). “The Fillmore Center will reactivate an industrial building that has lain dormant for many years but will now serve as another beacon of what is possible in North Lawndale. The quality jobs created as a result of this project will be transformative for the families in this community. We recognize the importance of creating spaces that not only meet the immediate needs of residents but also contribute to the long-term sustainability and prosperity of the community as a whole. The NLCCC looks forward to continuing to walk alongside the Steans Family Foundation as we work together with Alderwoman Monique Scott’s office to help improve the lives of residents of our great community.”

The Fillmore Center project is just one of several initiatives by SFF aiming to create systems-level change with a tangible impact on community members in North Lawndale. SFF seeks to bring about meaningful transformation through community partnerships and a policy agenda that addresses historical challenges while leveraging current opportunities.

“North Lawndale is a community on the rise with a thriving economy and boundless potential,” said Monique Scott, Alderwoman, 24th Ward. “Investments from dedicated local groups, alongside partners like the Steans Family Foundation, are how this community can become everything it can. I am excited for the people of North Lawndale to have access to a vital resource like the Fillmore Center and hopeful that it will inspire similar initiatives across North Lawndale and the city as a whole.”

For more information about SFF, visit steansfamilyfoundation.org.

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