As Chicago businesses prepared for partial reopening last spring, the cost of vital personal protective equipment (PPE) created a burden for many. To help our neighborhood safely reopen, the Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce (GRCC) launched the Ravenswood COVID-19 Prep Rebate program.
Utilizing funding from Special Service Area #31, the program assisted businesses with the purchase and installation of necessary safety and sanitation supplies. Every business within the SSA boundaries (most of Ravenswood’s main commercial corridors) was eligible to apply. The program covered 50% of the cost of supplies, up to $500 per business. This included PPE like masks and gloves, as well as sanitizer, plexi-glass barriers, air filters and other upgrades.
2020 Impact: Ravenswood COVID-19 Prep Rebate
By funding the procurement and installation of key safety and sanitation equipment, our new COVID-19 Prep Rebate program will aid in the revitalization of Ravenswood.
Megan Bunimovich
Executive Director, Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce
20 neighborhood businesses applied for and were granted funds through the program. In total, GRCC’s COVID-19 Prep Rebate paid for over $8,900 worth of PPE, sanitizer, and other essential items. Those supplies helped keep workers safe and empowered entrepreneurs and organizations to responsibly reopen.
“The grant that I got last summer from the Ravenswood Chamber helped keep me open,” said Kate Molitor, owner of Sangha Community Acupuncture (1828 W Wilson Ave). ” I didn’t have to choose between paying the rent or finding a way to pay for what I needed to safely open.”
2020 Program Participants
- Briteseed
- Erwin Law
- Feast Fitness + Nutrition
- Fountainhead
- Gallery Studio Oh!
- Lillstreet Art Center
- Manifold
- My Buddy’s
- North Side Housing and Supportive Services
- Open Space Early Learning Center
- Ravenswood Nail Party
- The Ravenswood Tavern
- Redline VR
- River Valley Farmer’s Table
- Roots Handmade Pizza
- Sailor
- Sangha Community Acupuncture
- SketchPad Inc
- T. Salon and Gallery
- Thresholds
Applications for 2021 Open on 1/25
As vaccines are distributed and mitigations shift across Illinois, businesses are preparing for another wave of cautious reopening and expanded operations. To assist with the financial burden on small businesses, GRCC is reopening applications for the Ravenswood COVID-19 Prep Rebate Program on Monday, January 25, 2021.
This time, eligible businesses will receive a rebate of up to 50% of their relevant expenses, with a maximum rebate of $250. The the adjusted rebate amount reflects the evolving needs of Ravenswood’s business community. “Many businesses made large investments into safety equipment to prepare for last summer,” said Megan Bunimovich, Executive Director of the GRCC. “This year, we’re excited to share the rebate opportunity with even more businesses and help cover the cost of masks, gloves, sanitizer, and other PPE.”
Visit our COVID-19 Resource Hub
To keep you connected to important information, GRCC created a Coronavirus resource hub. There you’ll find current resources, reopening phases, and ways to support neighborhood businesses and neighbors. Visit the COVID-19 Resource Hub.
