North River Commission

NORTH RIVER COMMISSION IS THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FOR THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF CHICAGO, FROM THE CHICAGO RIVER TO CICERO AND ADDISON TO DEVON. FOUNDED IN 1962 BY CONCERNED RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORHOOD INSTITUTIONS, NORTH RIVER COMMISSION UNITES OVER 100 CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS, BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS, INSTITUTIONS, AND PLACES OF WORSHIP. OUR MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY BY DEVELOPING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, QUALITY EDUCATION, ARTS & CULTURAL ENDEAVORS, OPEN SPACES, AND THRIVING NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES.

NRC PARTNERS WITH FOUR LOCAL SCHOOLS AND CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN DELIVERY OF OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME EDUCATION THROUGH THE NITA M. LOWEY 21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS.

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDING PARENT MENTORING PROGRAM, ICJIA VIOLENCE PREVENTION YOUTH PROGRAM, SMALL BUSINESS ACTIVATION PROGRAM, HUD SECTION 4, HOUSING HEALTH AND SAFETY, OUT OF SCHOOL TIME EDUCATION, AND SPECIAL SERVICE AREA

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS, NRC HAS REVITALIZED 900 BUSINESSES ON THE LAWRENCE, KEDZIE, MONTROSE AND IRVING PARK COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS THROUGH STOREFRONT IMPROVEMENTS, MULTIPLE SMALL BUSINESS LOANS, PROPERTY REFERRALS, BEAUTIFICATION, MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS. THE OPERATIONS OF NRC INCLUDE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ALBANY PARK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE LAWRENCE AVENUE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. NRC'S GOALS ARE TO BEAUTIFY THE COMMERCIAL STREETS, WORK TO IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION, IMPROVE SAFETY AND SECURITY, EXPAND RESOURCES FOR BUSINESSES, RETAIN AND ATTRACT BUSINESSES, AND MARKET THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS. NRC PROMOTES THE SMALL BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT FUND (SBIF), WHICH HAS BEEN USED TO RENOVATE OVER 90 BUSINESSES AND LEVERAGE THE INVESTMENT OF OVER $25 MILLION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDS.

ARTS AND CULTURE NRC COLLABORATES WITH ARTISTS AND THE COMMUNITY TO ENHANCE OFFERINGS IN THE AREA. ARTS ARE IMPORTANT TO ALL FACETS OF THE COMMUNITY FROM SCHOOLS TO PARKS, TO THE BUSINESS DISTRICTS. NRC, THE CHAMBER, AND THE SSA WORK TOGETHER WITH BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS ON A MUSIC SERIES CALLED LOT JAMS! AND A RESTAURANT CRAWL CALLED FLAVORS OF ALBANY PARK. NRC MAKES ANNUAL INVESTMENTS IN PRODUCING PUBLIC ART, ESPECIALLY MURALS ALONG THE BUSINESS DISTRICT STREETS, INCLUDING THE REINSTALLATION OF THE RONAN PARK SCULPTURE GARDEN. PARKS, OPEN SPACE AND ENVIRONMENT NRC WORKS TO INCREASE AND IMPROVE OPEN SPACE AND PARKS, DEVELOP MULTI-USE TRAILS, AND ACTIVATE PARKS. NRC COLLABORATES WITH MANY STAKEHOLDERS IN REDUCING FLOODING BOTH FROM OVER-BANK FLOODING ON THE NORTH BRANCH OF THE CHICAGO RIVER AND STORM WATER FLOODING FROM SEWERS. NRC'S CONFLUENCE PROJECT BROUGHT TOGETHER COMMUNITY VOICES AND VISION TO SECURE $7.5 MILLION IN INVESTMENT ALONG THE NORTH BRANCH OF CHICAGO FROM LAWRENCE AVENUE THROUGH EUGENE FIELD.