SDA Receives $15,000 Grant from Old National Bank to Launch Construction Services Initiative

The Southland Development Authority (SDA) has received a $15,000 grant from Old National Bank to support the launch of its new Construction Services Initiative. The pilot program is designed to strengthen local general contractors and advance affordable housing redevelopment across the Southland.

The initiative starts with a 12-16 week training program that equips small and emerging contractors with core business and project management skills. That will include anything from budgeting, planning, safety, insurance, and even marketing. Additionally, there will be a one-on-one mentorship and peer roundtables for participants. And maybe the most intriguing part - a hands-on capstone project - that being the rehab of a distressed home owned by the South Suburban Land Bank and Development Authority (SSLBDA).

The Construction Services Initiative will recruit 15 contractors for its first cohort and track measurable outcomes throughout the program. The SDA will later publish a formal assessment report after the pilot’s completion.

As always - the SDA aims to ensure Southland residents and businesses are active participants in the region’s revitalization. This initiative will play a big role in advancing that collaborative mission.

The program will be led by Brian Mott, the SDA’s Manager of Real Estate and Construction Services.

About the Southland Development Authority

The Southland Development Authority, a not-for-profit economic development organization, is committed to driving equitable and sustainable economic growth in the south suburbs of Chicago. Through innovative programs, strategic partnerships, and impactful direct investments, the SDA is building a vibrant, inclusive economy that drives wealth growth for individuals, businesses and municipalities. Combined with the benefits of the South Suburban Land Bank and the Monarch Fund, the SDA serves as a model for regional development.