News

Calvin L. Holmes was honored as a “History Maker” at Voice of the People’s Sweet Home Uptown Event, 11-18-21. Click his image below to view video.

  • December 16th, 2016

    CCLF Informational Video, Missing Pieces

  • January 25th, 2024

    DEMERA ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT COMING TO BRONZEVILLE

    Chicago is known worldwide for its exceptional cuisine. According to Travel and Leisure, Chicago has 50 James Beard Award winning restaurants and more than 20 Michelin-star-award winners.Because of the city’s diverse population, the cuisine varies from ethnicities around the world. Many immigrants who desire the food from their homeland start cooking for family and friends…. Read more »

  • January 25th, 2024

    THE COVENT APARTMENTS: AN SRO WITH STYLE

    Living in a big city can be expensive. Apartments in Chicago are at a premium, especially in neighborhoods like Lincoln Park on Chicago’s North Side. The average studio apartment in Lincoln Park goes for approximately $1,189.00 to $1,378/month for around 398 Sq. Ft. according to various rental property websites. However, a new apartment building has… Read more »

  • January 24th, 2024

    CCLF YEAR IN REVIEW: TAKING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

    2023 was a banner year for CCLF! When the books were closed, our numbers showed that it was our best year, ever! At the start of the year, we set high goals, and the hard work of our entire team allowed us to end the year with a total of 31 loans for over $42.6… Read more »

  • January 24th, 2024

    CCLF HONORED BY SHOREBANK ALUMNI WITH DONATION

    Recently, CCLF was honored with a financial award from the ShoreBank Alumni Planning Committee after the 50th Anniversary Celebration of ShoreBank’s founding. In conjunction with ShoreBank’s donation, Faith-Walk Church International and Senior Pastor, Dwayne D. Brown, bestowed upon CCLF an additional contribution. According to ShoreBank Alumni Planning Committee member, Kim Jones, Vice President Director of… Read more »

  • October 16th, 2023

    ASPIRE CENTER – REPURPOSING SPACES FOR A STRONGER COMMUNITY

    In 2013, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) made the unprecedented decision to close 50 schools at once throughout the city in an effort to balance the budget. It was the largest mass closing of schools in one city in our nation’s history. No other city had ever attempted such an undertaking. This decision left 50 abandoned… Read more »

  • October 16th, 2023

    PRO BONO WORK OF ATTORNEYS LEAD TO THRIVING COMMUNITIES

    CCLF provides flexible and affordable financing for real estate transactions that benefit low- to moderate-income households throughout metropolitan Chicago. CCLF is able to keep interest rates low for borrowers because of its many social impact investors but also because of pro-bono attorneys. In 2022, pro-bono attorneys provided CCLF with $783,628 worth of free legal services…. Read more »

  • October 16th, 2023

    SPUTNIK COFFEE: BREWING UP SOMETHING GOOD

    According to a 2015 groundbreaking study conducted by Technomic for the National Coffee Association, 76% of American adults drank coffee either at home or at one of the one million foodservice venues in the United States. The study revealed that the coffee industry has a $225.2 billion economic impact in the U.S., generated $28 billion… Read more »

  • October 16th, 2023

    SENATOR DICK DURBIN – ADVOCATE FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

    Senator Dick Durbin has served in government since 1983 and in the U.S. Senate since 1997. He is currently the Democratic Whip, which is the second highest office in the U.S. Senate. Issues of equity and fairness for all Americans have always been the focus of his public service. The largest city in Senator Durbin’s… Read more »

  • July 20th, 2023

    EM BRANCH & ASSOCIATES, INC.: HELPING OTHERS TO COPE

    Throughout our lives, we all are faced with challenges, some mental, some physical and some emotional. In fact, roughly 26% of adult Americans suffer from some form of diagnosable mental disorder each year. Understanding how common mental disorders are is important so that we can measure and understand their impact (i.e., physical, financial and social)… Read more »

  • July 20th, 2023

    2023 CCLF STAKEHOLDERS MEETING: BACK TOGETHER AGAIN

    After three years of virtual meetings, CCLF had its first in-person Annual Stakeholders meeting on Thursday, May 18, 2023, at the DePaul Center in downtown Chicago. Prior to the meeting, the 77 attendees were treated to a delectable breakfast enthusiastically networking after the long hiatus. Once the meeting was underway, Erik Hall, CCLF Board Chair,… Read more »

  • July 20th, 2023

    RIMLAND GRAND OPENING: MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD OF AUTISM

    The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as “a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain.” This disorder can begin to show symptoms within the first 12 months of life. Some children may progress and develop new skills and reach developmental milestones at or about 18 – 24… Read more »

  • April 22nd, 2023

    UNITED YARDS GROUNDBREAKING

    Settled in the mid-nineteenth century, Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood is a historic community known as the home of the Union Stockyards. Chicago’s concentration of railroads and ingenuity led to the large development of the meatpacking industry and those seeking job opportunities. The precarious and unsanitary working conditions, industry pollution, and low wages spurred… Read more »

  • April 21st, 2023

    NORTH AUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTER RIBBON CUTTING

    Chicago is a city of 77 neighborhoods. As in most large cities, some neighborhoods are more economically stable than others. In order to combat the decline in some communities, Mayor Lori Lightfoot created Invest South/West to re-activate neighborhood cores. One of the neighborhoods in this community improvement initiative is Austin on the city’s West Side…. Read more »

  • April 21st, 2023

    BRONZEVILLE LAKEFRONT INFRASTRUCTURE GROUNDBREAKING

    After sitting vacant for 15 years, the site where Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center once stood finally is being redeveloped. In late March, the Bronzeville Lakefront Infrastructure groundbreaking near Chicago’s southside lakefront took place; it was long overdue. Chicago is known for its topnotch medical facilities. For many years Michael Reese was considered one… Read more »

  • April 21st, 2023

    MESSAGE FROM ROBERT TUCKER, COO & EXECUTIVE VP OF PROGRAMS AND INTERIM PRESIDENT

    At the start of 2023, CCLF was extremely busy, experiencing an increased demand for its lending products, technical assistance and programmatic leadership. Although this flurry of activity came at a time when our trusted leader, Calvin L. Holmes, was on an extended leave, CCLF’s brilliant, hard-working and innovative staff made sure that the organization continued… Read more »