Community Ventures Program
JCUA’s Community Ventures Program (CVP) builds strong Chicagoland neighborhoods by funding critical projects for affordable housing and economic development. Through CVP, JCUA partners with nonprofit developers and community organizations, awarding zero-interest loans that get projects off the ground and create living-wage jobs for local residents. As JCUA pursues systemic housing and economic justice solutions through grassroots organizing, CVP is co-creating the physical spaces that ensure Chicago is a city where all residents can flourish.
CVP Projects
Since the loan fund was created in 1991, CVP has provided more than $7.7 million in zero-interest loans, which have leveraged hundreds of millions of dollars of public and private funding for construction and permanent financing; created or preserved nearly 5,000 units of affordable housing, including homeless shelters, SROs, rental units, co-ops, senior housing and single family homes; created more than 1,400 living-wage jobs in Chicago; and invested in systemically disinvested communities, and neighborhoods facing the displacement of residents through gentrification, including Albany Park, Austin, Bronzeville, East Garfield Park, Englewood, Gage Park, Humboldt Park, Little Village, Near West, North Lawndale, Old Town, Pilsen, Pullman, Robbins, Rogers Park, Uptown, and Woodlawn.
Apply for a Loan
CVP provides seed funding to nonprofits and mission-driven for-profits for the earliest stages of housing or economic development projects. Funds can be used for a variety of pre-development costs such as architectural drawings, environmental testing, market studies, application fees, legal fees, and others. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis subject to availability of loan funds.
Invest in CVP
JCUA’s Community Ventures Programs zero-interest loan fund provides a vehicle for individuals and institutions to support a variety of projects that create impact in neighborhoods across Chicago. Your contribution goes directly toward zero-interest loans that preserve and develop affordable housing and job creation.
If you are interested in contributing to the CVP loan fund, contact Community Development Manager Rose Shapiro (roseshapiro@jcua.org).
CVP Advisory Committee
Composed of community development professionals, finance experts, and JCUA members, the CVP Advisory Committee assists JCUA staff in ensuring CVP projects are impactful, viable, and aligned with JCUA’s mission.