Mayor Brandon Johnson announces $20 million BUILD Fund to expand investment in Chicago neighborhoods. New fund will expand access to capital for local entrepreneurs and developers, supporting community-driven projects on the South and West sides. October 28, 2026 CHICAGO - Mayor Brandon Johnson, alongside City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin and community leaders, yesterday announced plans to establish the Building Up Local Independent Developers (BUILD) Fund, repurposing $20 million from the Chicago Community Catalyst Fund to expand access to capital for small businesses, local entrepreneurs, emerging developers, and community-based organizations, particularly on the South and West sides. The initiative is part of Mayor Johnson's proposed 2027 Fair Share Budget. "For too long, communities on the South and West sides have been denied the investments they need. Traditional financing has too often overlooked projects that could have real impact in our communities," said Mayor Brandon Johnson. "The BUILD Fund is about changing that. We are expanding access to capital for local entrepreneurs and developers who know their communities best, investing in our people and their futures, and building safer, more affordable communities across Chicago." The BUILD Fund will support projects that strengthen neighborhoods and expand economic opportunity, including community centers, recreational spaces, educational and health facilities, and other resources that help families thrive. The fund will offer more flexible financing options, including below-market loans, to help bring community-driven projects to life. Created in 2016, the Chicago Community Catalyst Fund was designed to pair public dollars with private investment in underserved neighborhoods. However, the fund has not attracted private investors, and its remaining cash balance has not supported new neighborhood investments since 2020. In August 2026, the City's Office of Inspector General found the fund was effectively dormant and recommended that the city either put it to use or dissolve it and redirect its assets to general municipal purposes. "The Catalyst Fund was established to create opportunities for investment and economic development. Over time, we recognized that its requirements limited our ability to put those resources to work effectively," said City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin. "When something is not working as intended, responsible leadership does not ignore the problem, we fix it. That is what BUILD represents - making investments more flexible, more accessible, and more responsive to the needs of Chicago residents." Under Mayor Johnson's proposed 2027 budget, $37.7 million from the Catalyst Fund will be transferred to the City's Corporate Fund to support essential city services in 2027. The remaining $20 million will be repurposed to establish the BUILD Fund, advancing the Catalyst Fund's original goal of supporting economic development in underserved communities through a more targeted approach to neighborhood investment. The administration will work to expand financing opportunities for emerging developers, small business owners, local entrepreneurs, and community-based organizations, particularly in neighborhoods that have historically faced barriers to investment. The administration will also work to connect responsible developers with vacant city-owned parcels and use the city's enforcement and development tools to encourage productive use of vacant private properties. Through loans and other financing arrangements, the city will seek to recover and reinvest public dollars, allowing the fund to support additional projects over time while maintaining its long-term sustainability. "The BUILD Fund represents a change in policy and practice that puts more opportunity in the hands of people to develop their neighborhoods and build wealth in their own communities," said Malcolm Weems, Founder of TeQuity Partners. The BUILD Fund builds on the Johnson administration's broader efforts to expand neighborhood investment and make it easier to do business in Chicago. Through the Cut the Tape for Small Business initiative, the administration has implemented 90% of its recommendations to reduce barriers to opening and operating a business. Since taking office, the administration has awarded more than $125 million through Community Development Grants to projects that create jobs, strengthen communities, and improve quality of life. Those investments include After School Matters' new teen center in Cabrini-Green, the National Public Housing Museum, the Carole Robertson Center for Learning, the Goodman Theatre, and the Chicago South Side Birth Center. The city has also awarded $28 million through the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund to support local businesses in communities that have long faced barriers to investment. The BUILD Fund is part of Mayor Johnson's proposed 2027 Fair Share Budget, which prioritizes responsible spending and ensures neighborhoods across Chicago have access to the investments, services, and opportunities they deserve. The administration will continue working with City Council, the City Treasurer, and community partners to advance the budget and launch the new fund.

Reimagining Chicago's Thompson Center for the next generation. Sep 16, 2026 Blog is sharing the latest designs for its redevelopment of the iconic building as a space for work, culture, and community in Chicago. Plus, Blog is announcing new partnerships with local youth organizations. Mike Miller VP & Chicago Site Lead Listen to article 7:30 minutes Blog first opened its Chicago office in 2000, and since then, the city has grown into a tech hub - and Google's offices have grown to over 2,000 employees. In 2022, Blog announced its intentions to buy the James R. Thompson Center building - honoring its legacy while transforming it into a center of work and community for the next generation of Chicagoans. Today, Blog is sharing new design renderings for the building's soaring atrium, and announcing new community partnerships. Blog is teaming up with After School Matters to commission a student-designed art piece for the retail concourse, and supporting A Better Chicago to combat chronic absenteeism and help local students thrive in school. To top it off, artist Sanford Biggers has also been selected to create a major sculpture for the plaza, bringing a significant civic art moment to this central destination. The design: A preview of the new Thompson Center atrium. The Thompson Center has always been a place where Chicago's many worlds collide - commuters, visitors, and professionals moving through the same space. Its new design aims to curate an inspiring space offering unique amenities for the Loop, including: * A monumental architectural conversion: Conceptualized together with Architecture Plus Information (A+I), Blog expanded the central opening beneath the 17-story atrium, constructing a cascading staircase integrated with terraced seating and retail offerings. * An activated atrium and plaza: Designed for the day-to-day as much as for special moments, the atrium and plaza brings a curated mix of quality food, distinctive retail, and space for seasonal events. The Thompson Center offers a natural place to grab lunch, catch up with colleagues, or simply take in the scene. The art: A plaza sculpture by Sanford Biggers. Sanford Biggers is creating a new sculpture that honors the Loop's rich history of public art. Biggers' sculpture reimagines traditional quilt patterns as a hyper-dynamic, tilted accordion structure that offers spaces for interaction and gathering. Vector, the 30-foot tall sculpture, will be a continuation of the artist's celebrated Codex series, in which Biggers explores the hidden meanings and sacred geometries found within antique quilts. To create the sculpture, Biggers engaged with several local institutions to incorporate Illinois history into the glazed terracotta tile patterns, including historic 19th-century quilts from collections at the Illinois State Museum and Chicago History Museum, in addition to a Tumbling Block motif, a design historically associated with signalling along the Underground Railroad. The installation deepens Biggers' connection to Chicago, where his artistic journey began at the School of the Art Institute in 1999 and continues today. This will be one of his most significant works, transforming the Thompson Center plaza into an intersection of local history and modern craft. In addition to this commission, Google will be sourcing more art for the atrium from artists with roots in Chicago. Situated on the plaza at Randolph and Clark, Sanford Biggers' 30-foot-tall sculpture, Vector, features glazed terracotta tile patterns inspired by historic 19th-century quilts. At twilight, the view highlights the sculpture's dynamic geometry and vibrant terracotta tiles as a focal point in front of a glowing Thompson Center. The community: New funding and partnerships. Blog is expanding its local partnerships to support the next generation of Chicagoans both inside and outside the classroom. After School Matters. Blog is partnering with After School Matters, a local nonprofit celebrating its 35th anniversary that provides nearly 20,000 Chicago teens annually with paid after-school and summer opportunities. This fall, After School Matters will recruit teens for a 10-week program centered on the intersection of art and architecture. Inspired by the Thompson Center's design and surrounding architecture, the young artists will create a large-scale commissioned piece within the building's atrium, embedding local youth voices into the site's creative legacy. A Better Chicago. To further support Chicago Public School students, Google.org is providing $1 million in funding to A Better Chicago in support of "Every Day Counts." This new citywide initiative aims to strengthen student belonging and reduce chronic absenteeism in Chicago by 50% over the next five years. Its support will help community-based organizations on the ground provide vital services ensuring students have the support they need to stay engaged, attend school regularly, and reach their full potential. The future: A look at its next steps. Its vision for the Thompson Center is a place for daily inspiration with world-class art, innovative workspaces, direct access to CTA, an activated plaza, and the iconic atrium - complemented by its ongoing investments in Chicago's youth through public art and educational grant support. Blog is making strong progress on the transformation with its team, and plan to officially open its doors to Googlers, tenants and the public in 2028. Blog can't wait to welcome you inside. Posted in: