CHICAGO — Community organizations hoping to develop innovative projects on the South and West Sides can now apply for a $10 million award.

The 2024 Chicago Prize, awarded by the Pritzker Traubert Foundation, will support local leaders aiming to boost economic opportunity and create impactful change in their communities across the South and West. A winning team will receive a $10 million grant to help fund their dream project.

Nominations for the Chicago Prize are now open and will close at 5 p.m. on December 18. Organizations can learn more about eligibility, application requirements, selection process and more. here.

The Pritzker Traubert Foundation will host two pre-application webinars on Monday at 2 p.m. and November 18 at 2 p.m.

“The Chicago Prize is built on community leaders knowing what their communities need most,” said Cindy Moelis, president of the Pritzker Traubert Foundation, in a press release. “Previous awards have brought together funding partners and community leaders to drive development. We are committed to continuing to give leaders on Chicago’s South and West Sides the capital and support to make their opportunity a reality.

The Pritzker Traubert Foundation launched the Chicago Prize in 2020 to help community leaders create catalytic and sustainable developments in communities that have experienced decades of disinvestment and barriers to accessing equitable resources.

Improving the quality of life of a community, attracting new investments and strong community involvement are all objectives of the prize.

The Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation and the nonprofits Urban Growers Collective and Green Era Partner won the first prize of $10 million in 2020 for their initiative, Always Growing Auburn Gresham, which sought to bring a Healthy Living Center and anaerobic digester to the South Side community.

The Healthy Living Hub, 839 W. 79th St., transformed a nearly century-old vacant terracotta building into a community center with medical offices, a high-tech kitchen sponsored by the Chicago Bears, educational services provided by a local university and much more.

Urban Grower Collective’s nine-acre Green Era campus, 650 W. 83rd St., has a $35 million anaerobic digester which turns food into enough compost to create a new garden every day. The campus will soon have a vertical farm and community food center.

Sankofa Wellness Village at West Garfield Parkwon the Chicago 2023 award. The $50 million project, led by Garfield Park Rite to Wellness Collaborative, will include a gym, credit union, doctors’ offices, YMCA youth programs and a cafe .

Community leaders inaugurated the wellness center4305 W. Madison St., in September, and the 60,000-square-foot facility is expected to open to the public next year.

Six finalists for the 2022 Chicago Prize have received $500,000 from the Pritzker Traubert Foundation to help them move forward. These projects included residential and commercial development led by the Far South Community Development CorporationDL3 Realty’s $40.2 million project, Thrive Exchange, and Xchange Chicago in Greater Grand Crossing.

“There is nothing more powerful than building a project that community residents dream of,” said Bryan Traubert, co-founder and president of the Pritzker Traubert Foundation, in a press release. “The Chicago Prize 2024 looks forward to partnering with a third community to help realize its vision. »

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