Support West is a program created in direct partnership with, and in support of small businesses. From creating jobs to creating safe spaces, investing in local businesses is vital to the future of our communities, and what makes the Support West program so unique is that it’s not just about the financial investment. Our goal is to shore up the economic corridors of West Side communities through financial resources and marketing support, providing long-term assistance to these neighborhoods.

The Chicago Blackhawks Foundation is excited to launch the third cycle of the program to continue to support minority owned small businesses on the West Side by providing $5,000 grants through the Support West program.

The application window will open on November 3rd and close on December 12th. The grantees will be selected and notified by January 9th, with disbursement by the end of January.

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for a grant, businesses must meet the following requirements:

  • Located in a West Side neighborhood, particularly in Austin, Belmont Cragin, East Garfield Park, Hermosa, Humboldt Park, Lower West Side, Near West Side, North Lawndale, Pilsen, South Lawndale, West Garfield Park or West Town.
  • Categorized as one of the following business types: Food and Beverage, Art/Entertainment, Health & Wellness
  • 10 or fewer employees
  • Minority owned and operated business
  • Less than $250,000 annual revenue
  • In business for at least one year
  • Willing and able to participate in programming with mentors and professional development beginning in February 2026 and ending in September 2026
Apply Now

Support West es un programa creado en colaboración directa con, y en apoyo a, pequeñas empresas. Desde la creación de empleos hasta la generación de espacios seguros, invertir en negocios locales es vital para el futuro de nuestras comunidades. Lo que hace que el programa Support West sea tan único es que no se trata solo de la inversión financiera. Nuestro objetivo es fortalecer los corredores económicos de las comunidades del West Side mediante recursos financieros y apoyo en marketing, proporcionando asistencia a largo plazo a estos vecindarios.

La Fundación Chicago Blackhawks se complace en lanzar el sexto ciclo del programa para continuar apoyando a pequeñas empresas propiedad de minorías en el West Side mediante subvenciones de $5,000 a través del programa Support West.

El período de aplicación estará abierto del 3 de noviembre al 12 de diciembre. Los beneficiarios serán seleccionados y notificados antes del 9 de enero, con la entrega de fondos programada para finales de enero.

ELEGIBILIDAD

Para ser elegible para una subvención, los negocios deben cumplir con los siguientes requisitos:

  • Estar ubicados en un vecindario del West Side, particularmente en Austin, Belmont Cragin, East Garfield Park, Hermosa, Humboldt Park, Lower West Side, Near West Side, North Lawndale, Pilsen, South Lawndale, West Garfield Park o West Town.
  • Estar categorizados en uno de los siguientes tipos de negocios: Alimentos y Bebidas, Arte/Entretenimiento, Salud y Bienestar.
  • Tener 10 empleados o menos.
  • Ser propiedad y estar operado por un líder empresarial de color.
  • Tener ingresos anuales menores a $250,000.
  • Estar en operación por al menos un año.
  • Estar dispuesto y ser capaz de participar en programas con mentores y desarrollo profesional desde febrero de 2026 hasta septiembre de 2026.
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Support West Grantees

2024 Grantees
2023 Grantees
2022 Grantees
  • 345 Art Gallery is a beautiful space located in East Garfield Park in the middle of a thriving art community. It was designed to create and showcase art by artists, Chicago Public School students and others as well as provide an aesthetically pleasing multi-purpose space for private events.
  • Art West curates arts and cultural experiences to elevate the West Side art community. In addition to offering educational workshops, virtual festivals, and curated events, they are responsible for developing the Art West Gallery Tour, which explores local galleries and highlights the rich history and culture of Austin, North Lawndale, East and West Garfield Park.
  • Bitoy's Sweet Treats is one of the few African-American owned gourmet sweet shops serving Chicago, offering hand-crafted gelato, popcorn and confections. Launched in 2015, Bitoy's Sweet Treats builds upon a family legacy of 50+ years in entrepreneurship, economic development and philanthropy. 
  • Muse Coffee Studio is more than a coffee shop. For creatives by trade or creatives at heart, Muse is a place, a setting, a source (and yes, a coffee shop) for the acknowledgement, appreciation, and amplification of culture through creative expression.
  • Taylor's Tacos Taylor's Tacos is a pop-up catering company that specializes in authentic street style tacos with a whole lot of soul! It is 100% female, black, and lesbian owned. They believe in curating universal experiences through interaction, connection, and quali-TAY ingredients. Taylor's Tacos truly believes that tacos create community one deliciously good taco at a time.
2021 Grantees
  • Cocina Fusion is a full-service catering company based out of the Austin neighborhood that offers an expansive selection of delicious menus including Latin & American fusion, traditional Mexican and more for weddings, corporate, non-profit and other social events.
  • Finding Justice: A Flower and Vegetable Garden is a farm-site that aims to provide the West Garfield Park and Austin neighborhoods with fresh produce at a fair price to give way to a better quality of life in an area with limited access to these goods.
  • Millennial Enterprises is a small janitorial company based in the Near West Side that is working with the Chicago Housing Authority and developers to expand their scope to interior finishing and other post-renovation services.
  • Onnie Music is an independent record label based out of North Lawndale that specializes in the genres of Jazz, Blues, and Gospel, delivering some of that old Chicago soul with every track. In addition, Onnie Music assists local artists with their video production needs as well as creates music workshops for academic purposes.
  • Studio 27 Beauty Supply, Inc. is a beauty supply store located in the Near West Side that offers its customers an experience beyond the product, including on-site beauty services such as make-up application, brow shaping, and professional hair styling. The store also provides a summer program for local teens and helps other beauty entrepreneurs network through on-site events.