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Every year, the City of Chicago allocates “menu money” to each of the 50 Aldermen to spend at their discretion on capital improvements within their ward. In the past, aldermen received $1.32 million a year. In 2021, the amount increased to $1.5 million.
Dedicated to addressing specific local needs, the projects chosen by the aldermen include the repair and upgrade of streets, alleys, curbs, sidewalks, traffic signals, street and alley lighting and street pole painting. Aldermen that employ participatory budgeting give residents decision-making power on how to spend a portion of that ward’s allocated menu money. That has resulted in money being used for murals under viaducts, park improvements and cameras to name a few projects. If you want to see where the money went in the 40th and 50th wards in 2022 click on the link below.
2022 Menu - 2-9-23.pdf (chicago.gov)
In 2022 the City provided an additional $100,000 in one-time funding for each ward to support various community-based programs. Funding was to provide short-term support in the form of microgrants. Microgrants ranged from a minimum of $1,000 to a max of $50,000 for January 2, 2022 to December 31, 2022. Eligible activities for the Microgrant Program were:
Mental Health Services, Violence Prevention Activities, Youth Enrichment Activities, Small Business Assistance, Legal Support for Immigrants, Food Security, Senior Assistance, Educational and Training, and Health and Wellness.
Here’s how the money was allocated in the 50th Ward.
Award amount Award date Vendor name
$3,077.00 7/6/22 Life Quilt Foundation
$15,385.00 7/6/22 Indo-American Center
$1,538.00 7/6/22 World Relief Chicago
$4,942.00 7/6/22 Mather HS Alumni Scholarship Fund
$4,942.00 7/6/22 Jewish Child & Family Services
$12,539.00 7/6/22 Lubavitch Mesivta of Chicago
$37,064.00 7/6/22 Hanna Sacks Bais Yaakov
$13,100.00 7/6/22 Tonye, LLC
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