Greater Chatham Initiative

Greater Chatham Initiative is proud to serve as a convener, collaborator, advocate, and fundraiser for Chicago’s four historic southside African American neighborhoods: Avalon Park, Auburn Gresham, Chatham, and Greater Grand Crossing.

FoodLab Chicago

FoodLab Chicago 4.0, is a continuation of the successful FoodLab Chicago 1.0 and 2.0 that was carried out during 2020 and 2021, respectively. FoodLab Chicago is facilitated through community partnerships. FoodLab Chicago 4.0 continues to provide specialized food-industry business knowledge to mostly mature businesses in four historically black Chicago neighborhoods—Greater Grand Crossing, South Shore, Englewood, Bronzeville, Chatham, and Avalon Park. FoodLab Chicago utilizes a place-based familiar cohort model comprised of restaurateurs. In-person technical assistance will be given to the owner/operators of up to 16 food businesses that are listed below, some of which form the corridor nuclei of Restaurant Row on East 75th Street and East 71st Street corridors in Chicago. 

Project Deliverables:

1. Develop and execute pre program survey

2. Develop and execute post program survey

3. Follow up with post program survey at the point that cohort members exit the program

4. Conduct data analysis of program metrics and synthesize data into narrative for grant reports

5. Provide baseline metrics and local goals specific to FoodLab Chicago 4.0 on or before the below due dates

6. Lead and write the project evaluation 

Full description attached!

Email Tamieka Hardy (tamieka@greaterchathaminitiative.org) for further details and application!