Together Chicago has been selected by the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) as the delegate agency for the Neighborhood Retail Activation Program along Madison Street in West Garfield Park, between Kostner Avenue and Hamlin Boulevard. This initiative lets us deepen our commitment to West Side entrepreneurs and residents as we help the corridor recover from the severe storms and flooding of 2023 and 2024.
What the Program Is
The Neighborhood Retail Activation Program is a City initiative that revitalizes commercial corridors and supports storm-impacted small businesses. Through BACP funding, agencies like Together Chicago will activate vacant storefronts with pop-up retail and provide hands-on technical assistance to local entrepreneurs.
On Madison Street, we will identify move-in ready spaces, negotiate short-term leases, and host multiple pop-up activations such as individual shops or community markets. The goal is immediate visibility for entrepreneurs and a clear pathway to long-term, stable tenancy.
Together Chicago’s Role
We will manage the West Garfield Park component of the program through a dedicated team led by our Director of Business Incubation, Shelby Parchman. We will work with property owners and community partners to secure spaces and recruit a strong mix of local and minority-owned businesses that reflect neighborhood needs.
This investment will help strengthen local businesses, activate storefronts, and create more vibrant, welcoming commercial spaces for residents and entrepreneurs alike. We are grateful to the City of Chicago for recognizing the potential of this corridor and for partnering with community-based organizations to drive equitable economic growth.
Shelby Parchment, Director of Business Incubation
Why This Fits Our Mission
Our selection builds on nearly a decade of place-based investment, multi-partner city-funded programs, and deep relationships across Chicago’s West Side. The Neighborhood Retail Activation Program extends our Economic Development work, which focuses on job creation, entrepreneurial scaling, and building robust neighborhood economies.
We believe that strong local businesses and steady employment are essential for reducing gun violence and increase the everyday thriving of families in our communities. By helping Madison Street businesses stabilize and grow, we are investing in both individual entrepreneurs and the long-term health of the corridor.
Special thanks to the City of Chicago for sponsorship. This program is also sponsored by the American Rescue Plan. The South Lawndale Small Business Storefront Activation Program is part of the Chicago Road Recovery Plan, using funding from the American Rescue Plan Act; to learn more about this Program and BACP’s Recovery Plan efforts, please visit Chicago.gov/BACPRecoveryPlan