Friday, February 6, 2026

From Albany Park and our surrounding neighborhood communities, brought to you by North River Commission!

NRC UPDATES

Business Improvements Coming Soon with SBIF!

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the SBIF Grant Info Session! We would also like to extend a special thanks to Wintrust Bank for hosting us and to our partners at PEBA! As a delegate agency for the Lawrence/Pulaski TIF District, the North River Commission is here to help local businesses navigate the application process.

The Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) is a grant program that provides funding to small business owners and landlords for permanent building improvements and repairs. It uses local tax increment financing (TIF) revenue to reimburse a portion of expenses for projects like roof repairs, storefront renovations, and interior remodeling.

To verify you are located within a TIF district, search this map. For eligibility and other information, go here. The application window is open from February 1st to March 2nd at 5 PM: Begin Application. If you have any questions, please schedule a meeting by emailing Karen@northrivercommission.org.

Thank You to Our Community Choice Awards Sponsors

The Community Choice Awards would not be possible without the generous support of businesses that believe in and invest in our neighborhoods. We extend a heartfelt thank you to our sponsors—Wintrust Mortgage, Wintrust Bank, and Arzan Cafe—whose support helps us recognize and celebrate the small businesses that make Albany Park, Irving Park, and North Park such vibrant places to live, work, and shop.

We also want to thank Katherine Anne Confections, ABC Printing, and The Jade Vine for contributing treats, printing, and thoughtful details that added fun and creativity to this year’s celebration. Your support helped make this event truly special, and we are grateful to celebrate our community alongside you.

Community Events

Winter Mercadito

February 7 from 3-7pm

2951 W Montrose Ave

Come together to support local street vendors and small businesses at the 33rd Ward's market at Movement on Montrose! Listen to live music by Arma Blanca, Mundo Alterado, and Jugaar while you shop artisanal goods, food, books, and more. You won't want to miss this!

Arts & Culture Night

February 12 from 4:30-6:30pm

3436 W Wilson

Join in on the festivities at Roosevelt High School and celebrate the diverse cultures of the community! There will be food, activities, and performances. Don't miss out!

Lunar New Year with Hana Center

February 21 from 11am-2pm

4300 N California Ave

Join HANA's 2026 Lunar New Year Celebration on February 21 and help us ring in the Year of the Fire Horse!

This fun, family-friendly gathering is one of our most beloved community events. Don't miss performances, hands-on cultural activities, delicious Korean finger foods, and more. Festive traditional attire, like hanbok, is encouraged.

We can't wait to celebrate with you!

Economic Development + Business Resources

Greencorps is Recruiting!

Greencorps Chicago - the City of Chicago’s green industry job training program for individuals with barriers to employment - is currently recruiting potential candidates for this year’s Employment & Training Program!

During the nine-month program, Greencorps Chicago trainees earn a starting wage of $18.50, and receive practical experience, professional development, and classroom & field training in a variety of environmentally-related jobs with skills that are easily transferable to other industries. Trainees are offered several professional certifications. and are supported with wrap-around social services, a stable income, and assistance finding full time employment upon completion of the program.

Apply for a Community Development Grant

Until Februrary 13 or Ongoing

The City of Chicago helps support business and neighborhood vitality through Small, Medium and Large Community Development Grant (CDG) awards. CDGs use proceeds from the 2024 Housing and Development Bond and other funding sources to support a variety of eligible, business-related investments that create and maintain jobs and quality-of-life improvements for local residents.  

Applications are open to business owners, property owners, non-profit organizations, community developers and entrepreneurs.

What You Need to Know About Your Business and Federal Taxes

February 11 from 3-4:30pm

This workshop will answer important tax questions for your business including: Are you required to file a tax return? Is your worker an independent contractor or an employee? What business records must be kept? Are you required to make estimated tax payments? What resources does the IRS have for small business owners?

Presented by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Ladder Up

Financial Management for Small Businesses

February 13 from 9:30-11am

Allies for Community Business offers term loans and lines of credit ($500 -$100,000) and revenue-based financing ($50,000 -$500,000) to early, emerging, and established businesses. Join this webinar to learn more and get your questions answered!

Presented by Allies for Community Business (A4CB)

We are a Neighborhood Business Development Center!

North River Commission is an NBDC, which means we provide free businesses development assistance. We can support with licensing and permitting, as well as technical assistance, accessing capital, and 1-on-1 business advising,

Arts + Culture

Galentine's Workshops

February 15 from 12-3:30 pm

2839 W Montrose Ave

We will be having TWO mini art workshops, taught by Beth of Shiny Squirrel Art Studio! Join us for a fun-filled day of hands-on art, imagination, and creative exploration. No pressure, no experience needed. Just bring your curiosity and let’s create!

Clay Jewelry Mini Workshop

This workshop gives you the essential info you need to know about polymer clay plus enough extra tips to expand your polymer clay skills!

Foam Flower Mini Workshop

This workshop demonstrates all of the steps involved in creating gorgeous foam flowers that are all the rage now!

For the Love of Local: Sip and Shop

February 14 from 4-8pm

4432 N Kedzie Ave

💘 Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching. 💘

a. favorite design is hosting a market where they’ll have everything you need to make your Valentine’s or Galentine's Day perfect!

• Handcrafted Jewelry by Michelle Starbuck Designs


• Dried Florals and Spell Jars by The Floriography Fellows

• Confections by Katherine Anne Confections


• Bespoke Tea by Him + Her Vintage


• Letterpress printed Valentines by a. favorite design

Dance Jam

February 14 at 3:30pm

Rhythm of the Street

4301 N Kedzie Ave

Dance Jam is an improv circle for dancers who want to experience creativity on the fly. We dance with music for half of the hour and without music for the second half of the hour. This is a sharing, fun, community based activity for ages 3+. All kids under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. Come join us as we explore sound, music and movement.

Education

Parent Mentor Program Info Session

February 11 and 12 from 9am-12pm

Join the Parent Mentor Program and make a difference in the lives of students and teachers! Parent Mentors provide individual or small-group support to students in the classroom, closing equity gaps in our schools.

To learn more, contact Fatima at fatima@northrivercommission.org or 773-654-0989.

Cleveland School Preschool Little Bird Playdate

February 21st from 9-11am

3121 W Byron St

Preschool Open House for future students and families. Come meet teachers, other current/prospective parents, and learn about the great opportunities that Cleveland School offers Preschool aged children. Cleveland is one of the few schools in the area that offers Preschool after care options for families.

Resource Fair: Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

February 10 from 4-6pm

3436 W Wilson Ave

Please join us at Roosevelt High School for our monthly public meeting that will feature a resource fair and presentation in support of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. The Resource Fair will be followed by the DC17 meeting and presentation at 6:30 PM.

Free Tutoring

Mondays, 4-5:30pm

5250 N. Christiana Ave

North Park Covenant Church is offering free tutoring to students in K-8th grade! If you are interested in having your child participate in this opportunity, please complete the form below. You can also reach out to Christine Olfelt at North Park with any questions.

Book Reading: Mania and Other Stories

February 15 from 3-4pm

3401 W Foster Ave

Attend a book reading at Albany Park Branch Public Library by local resident Gail M. Glotzer!

Parks + Environment

Native Pollinator & Garden Registry

The City of Chicago Native and Pollinator Garden Registry board is seeking residents to participate in a pilot of the new registry process. This registry allows residents to register their native and pollinator parkway gardens with the city to avoid fines on plants taller than 10 inches. Registered gardens will not be fined and will join a citywide network supporting biodiversity.

The goal of the pilot is to ensure that the registration process is easy to use and functions properly. If you are interested in joining the pilot, please contact Jessica Fong at jfong@openlands.org.

Park Voyagers

February 2nd - March 6th

5100 N Francisco Ave

Join the Chicago Park District this winter to discover the fun of Chicago's World-Class Museums through engaging hands-on activities and projects run by museum educators! This program is free but registration is required!

NRC Releases Tree Planting & Management RFP

The North River Commission (NRC) has released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for tree planting and management services in the Albany Park community. The selected contractor will acquire, install, and maintain approximately 250 high-quality trees across private and institutional sites within NRC’s service area from Fall 2026 through Spring 2028.

Proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. CDT on February 28, 2026, with the contract award announced on March 20, 2026. The full RFP—including scope, qualifications, and requirements—is available on the NRC website under Requests for Proposals.

Questions may be directed to Eve Miller at eve@northrivercommission.org or (312) 860-2144.

Want more trees in your neighborhood?

We’re growing a healthier, greener community - and we’re looking for private property owners who want a free tree!

Own a home, business, school, or place of worship? If you’ve got space, we’ve got trees.

Fill out our Tree Interest Form to help us bring more green to Albany Park - right on your property.

Housing

All About Cook Country Property Tax Exemptions

February 17 from 6-7 pm

The Cook County Assessor’s Office will share valuable information about your property taxes, and what you need to know about any property tax exemptions that may contribute to lowering your bills, like: Homeowners, Senior, Senior Freeze, and others. The presentation will be followed by a moderated Q&A.

Is Your Roof Really Covered? Understanding Insurance Gaps Before Storm Season

February 11 from 6-7pm

Do you know if your roof is really covered by your insurance policy?

In this interactive session presented by Shawn Liu and Mickey Muldoon, creators of Roofcoveragereport.com, you'll learn what might be hidden in your home insurance policy, see a live demo of the free tool that helps you analyze your policy, and get a chance to use the tool to get instant insights on your coverage.

Bring your home insurance policy PDF! You'll get the chance during the webinar to upload it in the RoofCoverageReport.com tool for free, and get insights on your roof coverage before storm season hits.

Five-Year Blueprint on Homelessness

The Chicago City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate met to receive a presentation by our Chief Homelessness Officer regarding the city’s new “Five-year Blueprint on Homelessness.” This plan envisions a future for Chicago in which homelessness is rare, brief, and nonrecurring, and in which responses are rooted in compassion and dignity.

Recent shifts in federal policy underscore how urgently Chicago needs a coordinated, locally anchored, solutions-oriented strategy to overcome homelessness. Funding threats place long-standing housing programs and the stability of thousands of residents at direct risk. Chicago must continue investing in what works like, permanent housing, proactive homelessness prevention, integrated health and behavioral health care, and strong coordination across support systems. You can read the full report, get involved, and offer commentary and feedback at the link below.

Do you have housing assistance needs or have housing-related questions?

Contact our housing lead, Caelin at caelin@northrivercommission.org or message (773) 919-3305 with your inquiries! She can help you access resources related to tenant/landlord rights, homebuyer assistance, financial education, finding a case manager, and accessing city, state, and federal programs.

Health + Safety

Community Care Program

5700 N Lincoln Ave

The Community Care Program (CCP) through the Illinois Department of Aging (IDoA) provides free or low-cost services to eligible older adults to help them live safely and independently at home.

Services include

Homemaker Services:

• Help with meals, laundry, errands, and housekeeping

Adult Day Services:

• Supervised daytime care and social activities outside the home

• Emergency Home Response Systems (EHRS)

JASC works directly with seniors and families to start the application process and provide guidance.

Upcoming immigration appointment?

Whether it’s a court appearance, an ICE check-in, a biometrics appointment, or something else — The Sanctuary Working Group is here to help.

The fear of what may happen when following the rules and showing up to where you’ve been asked to appear is keeping many families and individuals paralyzed and unsure how to proceed.

If you or someone you know needs accompaniment to an upcoming appointment related to immigration processes, please fill out the form as soon as possible. Interested in volunteering? Fill out this form!

Donate or get free food at a Community Food Pantry!

You can make a positive impact by donating non-perishable food to our Community Food Pantries across Albany Park today! Shop local and support our local grocers if you can! 🛒

🌎 These pantries are located at:

📍Restoried Bookshop | 4613 N Kedzie

📍Nighthawk | 4744 N Kimball

If you would like free food, visit these pantries and take what you need, no questions asked!

NRC STAFF

North River Commission Staff

For more info, visit the North River Commission staff page:

• Kay Villamin / Executive Director (nagsasalita ako ng tagalog)

• Alexia Limas / Education Director (hablo español)

• Eve Miller / Director of Community Impact

• Farah El-Nahal / Economic Development Specialist (أنا أتكلم العربية)

• Karen Milroy / Economic Development Specialist (mówię po polsku)

• Caelin Muniz / Economic Development Specialist (hablo español)

• Elisha Jurewicz / Accounts Manager

• Sonya Koffman / Community Programs Coordinator (Я говорю по-русски)

FORGE School Site Coordinators

• Haugan Forge Coordinator / Samantha Uribe (hablo español)

• Henry Forge Coordinator / Priscilla Train (hablo español)

• Peterson Forge Coordinator / Emily Berman

• Roosevelt Forge Coordinator / Miranda Whitaker

Parent Mentor Program School Site Coordinators

• Haugan PMP Coordinator / Lucila Esquivel (hablo español)

• Hibbard PMP Coordinator / Fatima Suarez (hablo español)

• Palmer PMP Coordinator / Maria Martinez (hablo español)

• Cleveland PMP Coordinator / Adriana Cervera (hablo español) 

North River Commission
The nonprofit community and economic development corporation for the Northwest Side of Chicago, from the Chicago River to Cicero and Addison to Devon, which unites 100s of civic associations, businesses, schools, institutions and places of worship to improve the quality of life for all constituents in our community by creating affordable housing, quality education, community safety and resilience, equitable access to health, arts & cultural endeavors, environmental responsibility, and thriving neighborhood businesses.

northrivercommission.org / facebook.com/northrivercommission / @northrivercommission

Copyright (C) 2026 North River Commission. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:

3403 W Lawrence Ave, Suite 301, Chicago, IL 60625

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