PULLMAN — Hoping to assist South Side businesses that suffered damage during last week’s unrest, the non-profit Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives launched the Small Business Repair Program.
“We’re responding to what we have seen and heard from a lot of small businesses on the South Side that were hit by some of the looting last week,” said David Doig, president of Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives.
The group, which works to coordinate resources and bring development projects to under-resourced neighborhoods, wants to raise $100,000 for the new program, all of which will be given to small businesses through grants, Doig said.
More than $50,000 has already been raised, he said.
The fund aims to bring help to small businesses in neighborhoods including Roseland, West Pullman, Burnside and Auburn Gresham, Doig said.
Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives is working with activist Ja’Mal Green, who on behalf of the Majostee All-Stars Foundation, has raised more than $100,000 for small businesses in the South and West sides affected by looting.
“The goal is to have the money raised by early next week and get it out as quickly as possible to these businesses,” said Doig. “We want them to repair their storefronts, fix their doors, restock their shelves and really whatever they need to get back and open.”
Donations are being accepted on the Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives web site.
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