Two Local Groups Win MacArthur Grant

By Kevin Robinson in News on Apr 29, 2009 5:00PM

The MacArthur Foundation, ubiquitous for their public broadcasting funding and annual "Genius Grants", announced the winners of its annual "Award for Creative and Effective Institutions" yesterday, and two Chicago-based groups are among the winners.

The Center for Neighborhood Technology, a local think-tank that is an "innovations center for urban sustainability" won a grant of $650,000 grant. CNT launched the I-Go car sharing program in Chicago several years ago. "What we're all about is making cities work for the benefit of people who live in them and the health of the planet," chief executive officer Kathryn Tholin told Crain's. "We couldn't be more excited that the MacArthur Foundation has recognized us, but more importantly the award highlights issues we've been working on."

MacArthuer also recognized the Chicago Community Loan Fund with $500,000. Their mission is "to provide low-cost, flexible financing and free/low-cost technical assistance to nonprofit community development organizations for affordable housing, economic development and social service initiatives in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods throughout the Chicago metropolitan area." CCLF has spend over $35 million in the last 18 years to help finance the development of environmentally sustainable affordable housing in the city of Chicago. Executive director Calvin L. Holmes told Crain's that "we're determined with our sustainable development program to help our customers go green and stay green," and that "the money from MacArthur is allowing us to focus in on that a lot more."