Fulton Market's Street Closure Lifted

Fulton Market's street closure between Green and Peoria has been lifted, once again allowing vehicular traffic. The annual Outdoor Dining program, which involves street and curb lane closures, is currently active from May 1 to October 31st*, permitting both street and curb lane closures. This year, more than 15 restaurants in the neighborhood have taken part in the program. Should you have any feedback, please don't hesitate to contact Rod Burch at rod@wcachicago.org.

*Sidewalk Cafe permits are allowed year round

A Remarkable Evening at Puttery Chicago: Celebrating Community and Connections

The ambiance was set, the crowd was buzzing, and the anticipation was palpable – September 20th marked a memorable evening at Puttery Chicago. Hosted by the WCA, this networking event brought together a diverse group of attendees, sponsors, and Puttery Chicago, our gracious host, to create an unforgettable experience.

Gratitude and Community

At the heart of this gathering was a deep sense of gratitude. We couldn't help but express our appreciation to all those who made this event possible. To our incredible attendees, sponsors, and our wonderful host, Puttery Chicago, we say thank you. Your support and presence elevated this evening, turning it into something truly special.

Puttery Chicago: The Perfect Setting

Puttery Chicago, our host for the evening, deserves a special mention. Their exceptional venue and warm hospitality provided the perfect backdrop for an amazing night. With the glittering Chicago skyline as our view, we couldn't have asked for a more spectacular setting.

A Salute to Our Sponsors

Our event wouldn't have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors. To each and every one of you, we extend our heartfelt gratitude. Your contributions transformed an ordinary gathering into a truly remarkable one, and we appreciate your commitment to our community.

What's Next?

Stay tuned for details about our next event. We can't wait to create more memorable moments, forge new connections, and strengthen existing ones. After all, it's the sense of community and camaraderie that makes these gatherings so special.

Join Us Again!

To all our attendees and supporters, we want to express our sincere thanks for being a part of the WCA community. Your enthusiasm and presence mean the world to us, and we look forward to seeing you again soon.

In the meantime, keep your calendars open and your spirits high, because the next remarkable evening is just around the corner. Together, we'll continue to celebrate community and connections at their finest.

A Remarkable Evening at The Row Fulton Market: A Post-Event Thank You!

Dear WCA Community,

We hope this message finds you in high spirits and filled with the joy that our recent event at The Row Fulton Market brought to all of us. We are thrilled to take this moment to extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who graced us with your presence at the extraordinary WCA event held on July 19th.

The energy and enthusiasm you brought to the occasion made it truly unforgettable. Your unwavering support and active participation created an atmosphere of camaraderie that perfectly encapsulated the essence of our community.

We would be remiss not to acknowledge and thank our gracious host, The Row Fulton Market, and Related Midwest. The space was simply spectacular, and their team's dedication to ensuring a seamless experience for all our attendees was commendable. Without their support, this event would not have been possible.

To our esteemed sponsors, we extend our deepest appreciation for your generous contributions. Your support played a pivotal role in making this gathering a resounding success. Your belief in our mission and commitment to empowering this community is truly inspiring.

As we take a brief hiatus in August to rejuvenate and prepare for what lies ahead, we invite you all to mark your calendars for our next networking event on September 20th at Puttery. We are excitedly looking forward to reconnecting with each one of you and creating more memorable moments together.

Your presence and continued engagement have been the driving force behind the success of our events, and we are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve such an incredible community. Your feedback and suggestions are always welcome as we strive to make our future gatherings even more enriching and fulfilling for everyone involved.

Once again, a heartfelt thank you to all attendees, sponsors, and our wonderful host, The Row Fulton Market. Your support and collaboration have made our journey so far an absolute joy, and we eagerly await the next chapter in our shared adventure.

Until we meet again,

The WCA Team

A Post-Event Thank You to Attendees, Sponsors, and Host WCA event on June 21st at V. Collective

Valued attendees, sponsors, and our gracious host, V. Collective,

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for joining us at the remarkable WCA event on June 21st. Your presence and support contributed immensely to its success.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to V. Collective and Northern Fork for hosting this memorable gathering. Your dedication and efforts in providing a fantastic venue and exceptional hospitality were truly outstanding.

We also want to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to our esteemed sponsors for their generous support. Your contributions helped make the event truly remarkable and allowed us to create a meaningful experience for all attendees.

As we embark on a brief break in August, we invite you to mark your calendars and join us for our final event before the hiatus. The Row Fulton Market will serve as the perfect setting for another extraordinary occasion on July 19th. We look forward to welcoming you once again and creating more unforgettable memories together.

Thank you once again for your presence, support, and collaboration. It is through your continued involvement that we are able to make these events truly remarkable. We are deeply grateful and eagerly anticipate our next gathering.

MillerKnoll, Vice Mayor Alderman Burnett and the WCA Team up to Clean the Streets ahead of Fulton Market Design Days!

📢 WCA Announcement! 📢

We have exciting news to share with our amazing WCA community! Today, Vice Mayor Alderman Burnett kicked-off a remarkable clean-up event in preparation for the upcoming Fulton Market Design Days in Fulton Market. Joined by the dedicated MillerKnoll team and enthusiastic community members, we worked together to make our neighborhood shine!

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Vice Mayor Alderman Burnett for leading the event, providing the much needed tools and to the MillerKnoll team for their outstanding stewardship. Their commitment to creating a cleaner and more vibrant environment ahead of the Fulton Market Design Days is truly commendable.

A special thank you goes out to all the community members who joined in and contributed to the success of the clean-up event. Your participation and dedication are crucial in making our neighborhood look its best for the upcoming festivities.

Stay tuned for updates as we highlight the incredible moments from today's event. Together, with Vice Mayor Alderman Burnett, MillerKnoll, and our community, we are creating a welcoming and beautiful space for the Fulton Market Design Days.

Thank you for being an essential part of WCA and for your unwavering support. Let's continue working together to make our neighborhood shine during the Fulton Market Design Days and beyond!

Community Meeting: 1300 W. Carroll Ave

Announcement: Central West SBIF Lottery

We are excited to announce the winners of the Central West Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) Lottery, facilitated by SomerCor, for the Department of Planning and Development. These winning projects will receive funding to support the development and revitalization of the West Central community.

West Central Association assisted in the outreach and marketing of the SBIF program. Three of our members are on the list of lottery winners.  We encourage all applicants to continue pursuing their development plans, even if they were not selected in this lottery. We encourage them to work with the Department of Planning and Development to explore other funding opportunities and find ways to move forward with their projects.

We congratulate all of the lottery winners and look forward to seeing their projects come to fruition. When more requests are received in a SBIF district application period than funds are available, the lottery is necessary to determine the order that applications will be processed. 

These investments will help to create jobs, improve local businesses, and enhance the quality of life in the Central West neighborhood.

Central West SBIF Lottery Winners:

• Beauty Mark: luxury beauty salon offering a wide range of services, including hair, nails, and makeup, in a chic and relaxing environment.

• Jazzy Flowers LLC - Landlord - 35 S. Racine Ave/1148 W. Monore: florist specializing in unique and vibrant floral arrangements for weddings and events.

• Chicago Children's Theatre: professional performing arts organization dedicated to presenting high-quality productions for young audiences.

• Alta Vista Realty Inc.: full-service real estate company specializing in residential and commercial properties in Chicago and surrounding areas.

• PupStars Pet Care dba The K9 Corridor: professional pet care company offering dog walking, pet sitting, and training services

WCA is committed to supporting the growth and development of all Chicago neighborhoods, supporting our members base, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact that these projects will have on the West Central community.

If you have any questions about the SBIF program feel free to reach out to Rod Burch at 312.902.4922

West Central Association presents “ Madison Row Fest, a community block party” as part of the Central City Recovery Program (CCRP)

West Central Association

CHICAGO, IL (August 3, 2022)

Contact: Carla M. Agostinelli

Director of Community Partnerships & Development

carla@wcachicago.org

– West Central Association presents “ Madison Row Fest, a community block party” as part of the Central City Recovery Program (CCRP). The intention of the Madison Row Fest,

a community block party, is to invest back in the community, help develop diverse

programming, enhance the vibrancy of the Madison Row retail corridor, and inspire safer

passage with art installations.

In collaboration with the Department of Business Affairs Consumer Protection, District

Advisory Council of the 12th District Chicago Police Department, the West Central

Association’s Madison Row Committee Co-Sponsors (Moon Rabbit Acupuncture, Leaders

1354 & Viet Five) and Strength in the City, West Central Association will present the

inaugural Madison Row Fest on Saturday, September 17th, 2022. - The event is Free and

open to the public.

“We are excited to be part of an opportunity to rebuild & showcase the small businesses

within the community!” says Liezyl Ribiero of Move the World Operations/Strength in the

City. We look forward to working with each business for the activation of Madison Street,

including examples of lifestyle of health and wellness, all hyper local - Invest Local. Shop

Local. Dine Local.

“Madison Row Fest has been a long time aspiration” said WCA President ”. “We are excited

about the opportunity to continue to work closely with our businesses to enhance foot

traffic to their shops and websites. We are also very excited to see our community come

together on a street frequented by our local residents who define our neighborhood. This

event is also about improving public safety. We at WCA continue to reflect on ways to

reimagine the Madison Row streetscape in ways that improves the pedestrian experience,

increases foot traffic for our local businesses, and improves pedestrian safety. And, who

doesn’t like a street festival highlighting their community?!”

The intention of Madison Row Fest is to help celebrate a world post pandemic. Says

Gudrun Wu Snyder, Founder Moon Rabbit ”When I opened Moon Rabbit during the

Pandemic summer of 2020, the first people in the door were our West Loop neighbors.

The community was the first to support us. We are excited to engage and give back to the

neighborhood.”

Cultural programming from our local schools, musicians and artists will be showcased

throughout the day. “As a new business on Madison Row we share an authentic

multicultural experience with our neighbors and now new friends. We will continue to

support the community and maintain a safe space as we build blooming relationships.” -

VietFive Team.

“Having been a part of the Central City Recovery Plan, since inception, it has provided us

an opportunity to further develop our relationship with the City’s administration yet more

importantly serve as a stronger advocate for the community. says Carla M. Agostinelli,

Director of Community Partnerships & Development at West Central Association. We are

very excited at the opportunity to incorporate Asphalt Art, as a form of urban tacticalism,

into the Fest.”

WCA has proposed the following intersections to CDOT: Madison at Morgan; Madison at

Aberdeen; Madison at Peoria and Madison at Throop. We are hopeful that the Asphalt Art

will inspire behavioral change, encouraging safer passages and ultimately strengthening

our community” says Agostinelli.

Madison Row Fest will take place on Saturday, September 17, 2022.

On Madison between Halsted and Racine; 10am-8pm. Free.

For more information: wcachicago.org

Email: carla@wcachicago.org

About The WCA:

Established in 1918, the West Central Association - Chamber of Commerce (WCA)

represents over 400 member businesses, institutions and organizations across 13

geographic areas in the city of Chicago located immediately west of downtown. The WCA

is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of its members and the communities they serve

by advocating for business and property owners on legislation, taxation, transportation,

architectural treatment and model plans for the area.

For more information, visit wcachicago.org.

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