For nearly 30 years, the West Loop Community Organization (WLCO), a delegate agency for the City of Chicago, has helped guide real estate development in Chicago’s West Loop and Fulton Market communities. Their efforts included working with developers, city officials, local businesses and residents to help define development in these rapidly changing areas. During this time, they helped establish the West Loop and Fulton Market areas as one of the most vibrant, sought-after communities in the world. As development policies and processes have significantly changed, the WLCO Board of Directors voted to end its participation in development-related activities.

The Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) today announced the official start of the City’s annual street sweeping season, which runs each year from April 1st through mid-November or later, weather permitting. Residents are reminded to check for the bright orange signs announcing temporary parking restrictions. These signs are posted two days prior to scheduled street sweeping events.

Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations return this weekend bringing crowds and street closures. The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) reminds the public of large crowds and security measures in place for the weekend events. OEMC stresses the importance of always being aware of surroundings and reporting suspicious activity to onsite event security or call 911.

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced that Greencorps Chicago, the City’s green industry training program for individuals with barriers to employment, is now accepting applications for paid positions in its 2022 class! The training program starts in late March and candidates are encouraged to apply before the end of February to maximize the chance of acceptance.

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) announced over 2,000 small businesses and nonprofits have been awarded grants under the Chi Biz Strong Grant Program and Outdoor Dining Grant Program. The over $20 million programs will provide critical financial relief to grant recipients to assist in the recovery from the COVID-19 economic impact and to boost start-of-the-year operations.

Effective January 1, 2022, all Chicago employers of nannies, care workers, and home cleaners must provide their workers with a written contract in their preferred language. The contract must include the wage and the work schedule agreed upon by the employer and the domestic worker. This mandate ensures accountability, transparency, and predictability for domestic workers so they can plan for themselves and their families.

The West Loop Community Organization (WLCO) is pleased to welcome Andrew B. Gordon to its Board of Directors! Andrew is is the Managing Attorney of Gordon Law Group. A graduate of the Chicago Kent College of Law, he is also a Certified Public Accountant with a BA and Master’s Degree from the University of Illinois.

The West Loop Community Organization (WLCO) is pleased to share that, in joint coordination with the Mayor’s Office and the 27th Ward, 12 additional Chicago Police Department (CPD) officers are being assigned to the Fulton Market entertainment district in direct response to recent increases in local crime, including a shooting incident at Alhambra Palace (1240 W Randolph) earlier this week. This additional patrol operates 7 days a week, 6PM–3AM, between Racine to Clinton and Carroll to Washington.

At the request of the Chicago Police Department’s (CPD) 12th District, we are sharing a Parking Enforcement Bulletin to remind residents, businesses, and visitors that, effective immediately, CPD and the Department of Revenue will begin ramping up local parking enforcement, issuing citations to any and all vehicles stationed illegally — especially any violation blocking emergency vehicle access.

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot joined fellow City, nonprofit, and community leaders to announce the first-of-its-kind Community Safety Coordination Center (CSCC). The CSCC is a multi-agency coordination center that will utilize the lessons learned from the City’s coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the CSCC, the City will utilize this same approach to enhance Mayor’s Lightfoot’s whole of government, community-driven approach to violence prevention and reduction.

In accordance with the City’s plan to provide critical financial relief to Chicago’s business community, the Department of Finance is excited to launch the Business Recovery Payment Plan Program. Through this program, eligible business license holders can enter into a payment plan with as little as $25 down with terms up to 60 months. The Business Recovery Payment Plan Program is available through June 30, 2022 for most debt types.

Starting Saturday, the City of Chicago will be kicking off a series of three 2022 Budget Engagement Forums. These events provide opportunities for residents to speak directly to senior leaders across the Mayor's Office and every City department about values and priorities as we enter into a very important budget season. Find the schedule of events inside!

City Hall has reopened to the public! This announcement marks another milestone as the City of Chicago recovers from the impact of the pandemic. The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection’s Small Business Center, located in Room 800 of City Hall, opened to the public for limited in-person consultations on July 6. All visitors will still be required to wear masks and social distance appropriately while they are in the building. City Hall operating hours will be between 8AM-5PM Monday through Friday.

Effective July 1, the Chicago minimum wage increases to $15 an hour for most workers. City officials and Mayor Lightfoot are also celebrating recent efforts to ensure that domestic workers receive a fair wage through the Chi Biz Strong Package that passed City Council last week. Workers at businesses with 21 or more employees will be guaranteed a minimum wage of $15 an hour, while workers at businesses with 4-20 employees will see their minimum wage raised to $14 an hour as part of a gradual move to a $15 an hour by 2023 for small businesses.