On December 15th 2016, the MacArthur Foundation announced $11.6 million in new Chicago investments to help spur economic development in low-income neighborhoods, create opportunities for youth and prevent violence, promote police reform and accountability, and support arts and culture.

Over the past 35 years, the Chicago region has received the largest share of the Foundation’s philanthropy: $1.1 billion invested in 1,300 organizations and individuals across the city and especially in low-income neighborhoods – more than any other place in the world.

“MacArthur is deeply committed to Chicago,” said Foundation President Julia Stasch. “These new awards build on our long local history and our commitment to help address some of the city’s most pressing challenges – from spurring economic development and creating jobs in struggling neighborhoods to preventing violence, from promoting police reform and accountability to creating opportunities for youth.”

Through our fiscal sponsor, Kinzie Industrial Development Corporation, MacArthur generously granted $400,000 to support the Chicagoland FOOD project, which promotes growth in the food and beverage industry with a goal of increasing employment in Chicago neighborhoods.

We at Chicagoland FOOD are extremely proud of and grateful for this support. This funding allows us to make progress against the important work of collaborating across the food & beverage industry in Chicagoland to make our local economy stronger and more inclusive.

To learn more, see the press release from the MacArthur Foundation. https://www.macfound.org/press/press-releases/116-million-new-chicago-investments/