The Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce (GRCC) is a non-profit organization devoted to supporting small businesses. As part of our work fostering a vibrant local economy in Ravenswood, GRCC manages Special Service Area #31 (SSA#31). Businesses and properties within SSA boundaries benefit from expanded services and programs funded through a localized property tax levy.
Ravenswood SSA#31 provides services to commercial corridors on Lawrence, Wilson, Montrose, Irving Park, Clark, Ravenswood, and Damen. SSA projects typically include (but are not limited to): landscaping and beautification, district marketing and advertising, business retention/attraction, special events and promotional activities, façade improvements, public art, and other economic development initiatives. These services and programs are in addition to those provided by the City of Chicago. Click to enlarge this map of SSA #31’s boundaries.
SSA #31 2023 Recap
Last year, Special Service Area #31 sponsored a variety of events, programs, and services in Ravenswood. Special projects included new plantings and landscaping to establish a native garden at Montrose and Ravenswood, and installation of The Nurse Trees in the Ravenswood Sculpture Garden. For the holiday season, the SSA funded holiday decor around the neighborhood, the Unwrap Ravenswood rewards program, and the free Holly Jolly Trolley on Small Business Saturday.
SSA Sponsored Community & Media Events
- Munch March Dessert & Appetizer Crawl
- Malt Row Media Tour
- Ravenswood Mother’s Day Gift Market
- Ravenswood Farmers Market
- Malt Row on Damen Beer Tasting Stroll
- Ravenswood On Tap Craft Beer & Music Fest
- Ravenswood ArtWalk: Tour of Arts & Industry
- Ravenswood Harvest Celebration
- Ravenswood Costume Crawl
- Small Business Saturday Holly Jolly Trolley
SSA #31 2023 Service Highlights
- $5,969.85 in storefront improvement rebates
- 2,369 bags of trash collected
- 882 bags of recycling collected
- 403 instances of graffiti removed
- 280 street poles decorated for the holidays
- 28 flower planters maintained with seasonal plantings
- 178 tree pits maintained
- 2 new sculptures
- 1 new native garden
- PR team secured features for local businesses and events in 70+ media outlets, including ABC, CBS, FOX, WGN, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, NewCity, Choose Chicago, Time Out Chicago, Eater Chicago, and more.
Community Input: Take Our Survey & Enter to Win $75 in Gift Cards
Each year, we issue a community survey related to the SSA’s programming. We use direct feedback from local businesses and responses to this survey to improve services and and evaluate future projects. The SSA Services Survey is open through Friday, March 1, 2024.
Your feedback will help us determine the best way to use our resources to benefit our community. Once you’ve completed the survey, enter your email for a chance to win up to $75 in gift cards to Ravenswood small businesses!
