Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago

It’s inspiring to see our member, Signature Bank, championing small business growth through our Community First? Accelerate Grants. Thanks to their partnership, Eagle Hair Care, Inc. and Sir Speedy Printing each received $15,000 grants to enhance their services and continue making a difference in their communities.

We’re proud to partner with our member, Associated Bank, in advancing affordable housing in Racine, Wisconsin. The renovation of Harbor at State and Main Apartments will bring 84 affordable units for senior households with incomes from 30% to 60% AMI. This project was supported by a $1 million Affordable Housing Program grant from FHLBank Chicago. Read more in this article by REjournals: https://bit.ly/3ZiCUcX

Check out this article in the Chicago Sun-Times by our very own SVP and Community Investment Officer, Katie Naftzger, to learn how FHLBank Chicago is helping small businesses grow and strengthen their communities. Through programs like our Community First? Accelerate Grants and Community Small Business Advance, we’re working with our member financial institutions to provide essential funding to small businesses—fueling economic growth and transforming neighborhoods across Chicago and Illinois. Learn more about how these programs are making an impact: https://bit.ly/4fwoN9s

Check out this article by In Business Madison highlighting FHLBank Chicago's investment in Madison-area small businesses through our 2024 Community First? Accelerate Grants and Community Small Business Advance, in partnership with our members. Local favorites like Gentle Breeze Honey Inc. and Paradise Paws Camp & Resort are among the businesses supported, part of over 700 small businesses across Illinois and Wisconsin this year. Read the full article: https://bit.ly/4i1qn54 Thank you to the IB team for the feature!

With Small Business Saturday right around the corner, we are proud to share that we’ve invested over $27 million in 2024 to support more than 700 small businesses across Illinois and Wisconsin. Through our Community First? Accelerate Grants and Community Small Business Advance, we’ve provided funding to help these businesses strengthen their operations, expand services, and invest in their futures. Read the full story on how we’re partnering with our members to uplift small businesses and the communities they call home: https://bit.ly/3UVNcgo

Listen to our latest episode of Banking on Connections. David Feldhaus, Esq., SVP, Director of External Affairs, sat down with Randall Hultgren, President and CEO of the Illinois Bankers Association, to hear his insights into how the results of the U.S. elections are unfolding and what that could mean for the banking and financial sectors. Tune in here: https://bit.ly/4eZVlrJ

We’re proud to support our member Busey’s efforts in uplifting local businesses, with the Debra T. Thomas Learning Center in Bloomington and Grand Frame, Inc. in Arlington Heights as recipients of our Community First? Accelerate Grants for Small Business. These $15,000 grants will help these two businesses continue to grow and serve their communities.

Congratulations to Noe’s Landscaping in Hillside and D’Arce Painting in Aurora on receiving $15,000 Community First? Accelerate Grants through our member, Central Credit Union Of Illinois. These grants will support each business in acquiring new equipment to enhance their services within the community. We’re proud to help small businesses thrive and build economic strength through partnerships with our member institutions.

We’re thrilled to support Shape Into Fitness LLC with a $15,000 Community First? Accelerate Grant in partnership with our dedicated member, Paper City Savings Bank. Shape Into Fitness will use these funds to expand their equipment, enhancing the workout experience for clients and contributing to community wellness.

We’re proud to support Hefty Services with a $15,000 Community First? Accelerate Grant through our member, The Bank of New Glarus! This grant will help drive growth for Hefty Services and strengthen their impact in the Darlington community.?