Local News
Urban Growers Collective (UGC) and Vitable Health Launch a New Partnership with a Company-Wide Volunteer Day on July 11
Urban Growers Collective (UGC), a Black- and women-led nonprofit farm building a more just and equitable local food system in Chicago through urban agriculture, announces its new partnership with Vitable Health, which offers a direct primary care health plan designed to make high-quality concierge healthcare accessible to everyone.
Surge Angels Program Awards $100,000 to Three Ventures Founded by Education Leaders of Color
Surge Institute, a trailblazing organization that empowers leaders of color in education, recently awarded $100,000 in funding through its Surge Angels program to three early-stage ventures run by Black, Latinx, Asian and Pacific Islander education leaders. The awards were determined and announced on Friday, June 28, in Chicago during a special Pitch Night event, culminating in the intensive six-month Surge Angels entrepreneurial development program.
Black Veterans for Social Justice Partners with Navy Federal Credit Union to Bolster Support for Veterans Everyday Campaign
Black Veterans for Social Justice (BVSJ), a 45-year-old nonprofit organization dedicated to providing essential services to U.S. veterans and their families, is grateful for Navy Federal Credit Union's philanthropic support. The grant will support tailored solutions for our nation's heroes through BVSJ's Veterans Everyday Campaign.
Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation Announces $3.6 Million in Funding to Organizations in Chicago, Lowcountry of South Carolina
The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation (GDDF) is pleased to announce support for 69 groups in its 2024 spring/summer grant cycle. The Board of Directors has approved over $3.6 million in funding to organizations working in the Chicago region and the Lowcountry of South Carolina across the Foundation’s three program areas: Artistic Vitality, Broadening Narratives, and Land Conservation. In Chicago, GDDF is supporting 53 organizations with more than $2.9 million in funding. A full list of all grantees appears at the end of this release.
Gov. Pritzker Signs Landmark Carbon Capture Bill
Governor JB Pritzker, joined by legislators, environmental advocates, and organized labor leaders, signed SB1289, the Safety and Aid for the Environment in Carbon Capture and Sequestration (SAFE CCS Act), into law. The bill creates nation-leading standards for safety and environmental protection for carbon capture, transport, and sequestration projects in Illinois. Thanks to carbon capture tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act, this act will also drive investment in Illinois and create hundreds of jobs as companies are incentivized to move carbon capture to Illinois.
MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON AND THE CITY OF CHICAGO SELECT ORGANIZATION FOR THE CHICAGO SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) announced Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) as the organization to oversee the Chicago Supplier Development Program, formerly known as the EDGE: Supplier Development Program. WBDC will work with the City to design, organize and execute capacity building programs and provide community-based outreach to small businesses interested in contracting with the City of Chicago. The program will also provide targeted support and resources to assist firms who are generally selected as subcontractors on how to become prime contractors on City-funded projects. Businesses interested in participating in the program can apply by visiting Chicago.gov/SupplierDevelopment.
Gov. Pritzker Announces Major Federal Partnership in Quantum Research
Governor JB Pritzker joined representatives from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), legislative leaders, and representatives from Illinois’ congressional delegation to announce a major ongoing partnership called Quantum Proving Ground to explore the potential of quantum computing in Illinois. This partnership is the result of investments made during the Pritzker administration in quantum research and infrastructure, in addition to the state’s strong local workforce, research, and university partners.
CHICAGO EXPANDS GLOCK LAWSUIT
The City of Chicago announced the expansion of the City’s first-of-its-kind lawsuit against Glock, the manufacturer of the most popular handguns in the United States. Three additional defendants were named in the complaint submitted yesterday in Cook County Circuit Court - Glock Ges.m.b.H, the Austrian Glock entity and part owner of the U.S. Glock subsidiary, and two Chicago-area gun stores on Glock’s roster of preferred dealers, Eagle Sports Range in Oak Forest, Illinois and Midwest Sporting Goods in Lyons, Illinois.
Malcolm X College’s West Side Learning Center to hold 4th Annual Community Day on Friday, August 2
The public is invited to attend Community Day at Malcolm X College’s West Side Learning Center (WSLC) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, August 2. The WSLC is located at 4624 W. Madison Street in Chicago. Partners planning to attend include the West Side Health Authority, Habilitative Systems, BUILD, West Side Task Force, Versiti Blood Center of Illinois, and Introspect Youth Services.
MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON AND THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING ANNOUNCE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR FLOOD REMEDIATION PROGRAM
Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Housing (DOH) are proud to announce securing an additional $5 million for 2024 Flood Assistance Repair Program (FARP) designed to assist homeowners impacted by severe flooding experienced in July 2023. The initiative underscores the city’s commitment to providing essential support and resources to its residents, particularly the most vulnerable, and will be used in addition to the $172 million FEMA funding that has already been allocated.
4 Policy Resolutions Championed By Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller Approved at NACo Annual Conference
Four policy resolutions introduced by 6th District Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller were adopted as full policy resolutions at the National Association of Counties (NACo) conference. The conference, held this year in Tampa, Florida, brings together nearly 2,000 elected and appointed county officials to focus on federal policy issues that impact counties and their residents. Commissioner Miller’s four resolutions focused on maternal health, environmental justice, social media safety and CPR/AED trainings.
Gov. Pritzker Opens New Pace Campus in Markham
Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation were joined by community leaders and transit officials to celebrate the completion of Pace’s new Markham campus, a project that modernizes operations and strengthens the agency’s south suburban workforce while advancing safety and the use of more environmentally friendly electric buses. The Markham campus project was made possible by a $7.1 million investment from the governor’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program and an additional $27.1 million in state funding. These improvements further the record investments being made in transit by the state throughout the region.
Lawndale Christian Development Corporation Wants To Keep Families In The Community
The Lawndale Christian Development Corporation is working to build 1,000 new single-family homes, through a partnership with United Power for Action and Justice and in tandem with organizations and communities across the city of Chicago.
Black-Owned Market 96 Open For Business
Since January 1st of 2020, cannabis has been legal in the state of Illinois. Once it became legal, Fred Spencer wanted to be part of the cannabis industry. He was given that opportunity when he connected with Blounts & Moore. Now, Spencer is the CEO of Market 96.
