Funding awarded through the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF) provides a critical financial contribution to small business projects in the form of equity, but funding alone is often insufficient to get projects off the ground. To support NOF grantees, we provide a list of pre-vetted, professional technical assistance (TA) providers in three categories – architects, construction project managers, and project lending coaches – whose expertise can help grantees address common pain points.
NOF offers additional funding to NOF Small Grantees (Grants of $250,000 or less*) for technical assistance through architects, construction project managers, and project lending coaches. Below is a break-down of each service, including the funding available and the current list of approved providers.
* Please note that total NOF funding for Small Grants (including NOF funding for an Approved TA Provider) can never exceed $250,000 as a grant of greater than $250,000 would be required to go to City Council and be subject to additional construction requirements. Therefore, if a grantee is receiving the full NOF Small Grants maximum of $250,000, they are currently ineligible for this additional support but can still contact the list of Approved TA Providers to engage their services on their own as needed.
Fees: Capped at 20% of the approved NOF grant amount or $25,000, whichever is less. Fees must be justified based on hourly rates and tied to identified milestones within the scope of work.
Note: The City does not recommend or endorse any one Approved Technical Assistance Provider ("Approved TA Provider"), and, ultimately, NOF Grantees will select the Approved TA Provider and develop a scope of work with them.
Purpose: Architect will provide NOF Grantees with design and construction permitting needs.
Architect/Design TAs for 2022-2024
| Moss Design, Inc |
| Civic Projects Architecture |
| Bailey Edward Design, Inc. |
| SHED Studio |
| Future Firm |
| Via Chicago Ltd |
| DesignBridge, Ltd. |
| SEEK Design + Architecture |
| Silvestro Design Operations Ltd |
Purpose: The Construction Project Manager will provide NOF Grantees with comprehensive construction management support.
Construction Management TAs for 2022-2024
Purpose: The Project Lending Coach can assist NOF Grantees with coaching and preparation for loan applications as well as support other efforts to secure funding for their project.
Fees: Determined by loan size, recognizing that smaller loans are often more difficult to secure. For loans from $0-50,000, fees will be capped at 20% of the final loan amount. For loans over $50,001, fees will be capped at 15% of the loan amount or $15,000, whichever is less. Fees must be justified based on hourly rates and tied to identified milestones within the scope of work. The maximum for all TA work is 20% of the approved NOF grant amount or $25,000, whichever is less.
Lending TAs for 2022-2024
| Greater Chatham Initiative (GCI) |
| Greater Southwest Development Corporation (GSDC) |
| InUrban Strategies |
Grantees are invited to work with dedicated NOF concierge project managers for guidance with city requirements and for inter-departmental coordination for building permits, scofflaw, business licenses and or inspections.
If you are an NOF grantee in need of additional assistance, please email us at NOF@cityofchicago.org.