Highlights

Letter to the Editor: Historic Pullman and generous donors

• Will Shafroth and Robert Rivkin, NPF
• Chicago Sun Times

When Pullman National Monument was designated in 2015, the core feature of the site, the historic Clock Tower, and the surrounding grounds required significant and costly restoration. The National Park Foundation and philanthropists stepped up, contributing generously, and committed to raise additional funds needed to launch the project and to assure its success…

To date, private donors have contributed $10.5 million, including the generous support of the Pritzker Traubert Foundation, the Union Pacific Foundation and the Fund II Foundation.

1 Year In: How P33 Is Giving A Boost To Chicago’s Tech Ecosystem

• Pete Wilkins
• Forbes

Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce and Chicago-native Penny Pritzker, Chicago tech entrepreneur and founder of Ocient and Cleversafe Chris Gladwin, and Civic Committee and Commercial Club of Chicago President Kelly Welsh, gathered a diverse group of Chicago leaders and community stakeholders to answer a perplexing question – why is Chicago, a city home to more than thirty Fortune 500 companies, multiple world-class research universities and a vibrant startup ecosystem, not one of the U.S.’s leading technology and innovation hubs?

After months of meetings and research, the group emerged with a plan and launched P33 with a mission to turbocharge Chicagoland’s tech economy to accelerate economic growth, opportunity and equity for all Chicagoans.

This private sector-led organization has been officially off the ground as a fully operational 501c(3) for about a year now, and already has multiple programs set in place to have a lasting impact on its Chicagoland community.

Healthy Living Hub Is Centerpiece Of Big Plans For Auburn Gresham: ‘In 5 To 10 Years … You’ll See The Vibrancy’

• Maxwell Evans
• Block Club Chicago

The new hub at 839 W. 79th St. will include a 15,000-square-foot health center, a minority-owned pharmacy, a fitness center, office space for the  Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation, a Mikkey’s Retro Grill and a green roof for education, among other community-based organizations and services.

The hub has received significant public and private investments in recent months. It received $4 million from the city’s INVEST South/West program in June and was part of the winning submission for the $10 million Chicago Prize announced earlier this month.

In another troubled time, Englewood continues efforts to transform

• Annie Sweeney
• Chicago Tribune

$10M Chicago Prize Awarded to Auburn Gresham Team to Build Health Hub, Urban Farm

• Patty Wetli
• WTTW

More than 80 teams applied for the inaugural Chicago Prize, and on Thursday it was announced that after a yearlong competition, a group from Auburn Gresham had nabbed the $10 million grant, with plans to use the funds to develop a healthy lifestyle hub and renewable energy and urban farming campus.

The Chicago Prize, sponsored by the Pritzker Traubert Foundation, sought to invest in collaborative initiatives developed by leaders within communities on the city’s South and West sides, rewarding ideas generated by people who’ve worked over the years, or even decades, to improve their neighborhoods.

$32 Million Auburn Gresham Urban Farm Coming To Life After State Grants Last $2 Million To Project

• Maxwell Evans
• Block Club Chicago

Gov. Pritzker’s announcement comes one day after the Pritzker Traubert Foundation granted $10 million to the project.

The state is granting $2 million to help build an urban farm and renewable energy campus in Auburn Gresham, Gov. JB Pritzker announced Friday.

The contribution from the state’s Rebuild Illinois program is the last funding Always Growing Auburn Gresham needed to build the $32 million urban farm at 650 W. 83rd St., Pritzker said.

Auburn Gresham Community Group Wins $10M ‘Chicago Prize’ Grant

• Michelle Relerford
• NBC 5 Chicago

A Chicago community group reacted with joy this week after learning they’re receiving a $10 million grant. NBC 5’s Michelle Relerford explains what the grant will be used for.

Chicago Group Given $10 Million For Community Redevelopment In Auburn Gresham

• CBS Chicago

A community group on Chicago’s South Side on Thursday was the recipient of a $10 million grant from a foundation to boost a million-dollar development to transform an abandoned building and a vacant lot into a neighborhood gathering spot.

The “Always Growing, Auburn Gresham” group received the grant from the Pritzker Traubert Foundation to advance a plan to turn the four-story building into a “Healthy Lifestyle Hub.” The building will include health care, nutrition, urban farming, a recycling enterprise facilities and office space the Auburn Gresham neighborhood.

South Side neighborhood group wins $10 Million ‘Chicago Prize’ to reinvigorate Auburn Gresham

• Mark Rivera
• ABC 7 Chicago

In a neighborhood that for generations has been disinvested now comes a financial windfall.

“Now we’re here proclaiming, yes! There’s hope being instilled, there’s resources coming,” said Carlos Nelson, Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation CEO.

The Always Growing Auburn Gresham project won the $10 million “Chicago Prize” from the Pritzker Traubert Foundation Thursday, besting dozens of other applicants.

Auburn Gresham Group Wins $10M Pritzker Traubert Chicago Prize

• Dennis Rodkin
• Crain's Chicago Business

A “healthy lifestyle hub” and an innovative urban agriculture operation are planned as the first part of the foundation’s $100 million commitment to community-driven improvement in South and West Side neighborhoods.