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CHICAGO – September 12, 2024—Today, The Resurrection Project joined residents, small business owners, and community organizations to support the Pilsen Industrial Corridor Tax Increment Financing (TIF) expansion. We stand with the Pilsen Preservation Collective to urge Pilsen residents and the city council to approve the expansion for our community, which deserves these resources.

Together, with the support of Alderperson Byron Sigcho-Lopez, we can ensure the funds directly benefit the neighborhood and its residents, paving the way to create a healthier community without displacement. This is not just about today; it’s about preserving the neighborhood’s character, culture, and vitality.

“The Pilsen TIF amendment will provide the necessary resources to prevent displacement and preserve the community’s culture and character, said Raul I. Raymundo, CEO and co-founder of The Resurrection Project.

Tanya Lozano Washington, Healthy Hood Chicago, said, “We support our Alderman, the expansion of TIF, and a structure of accountability that includes community involvement and how these existing funds are allocated.”

Victoria Marrufo, a Parent with students at Peter Cooper Dual Language Elementary, says, “Cooper does not have security cameras in a building. That is not fair. Our children and educators are not safe. The school does not have air conditioning, and now that the heat is extreme, the children come out sweaty. We want our children to have a place to play. School is the most important thing for our children, and they deserve these basic resources.”

Maria Miranda, a small business owner of TM Lacquer Room in Pilsen, said, “As a business owner, this expansion will benefit not just myself but anyone with a business in Pilsen. If we don’t have this expansion, our businesses will suffer due to high rent, and we’ll be forced to raise our prices. We want to stay in Pilsen; we deserve it.”

Marta Puebla, Resident at TRP’s Casa Maravilla with affordable rental units for Seniors, says, “I have lived in Pilsen a long time; my husband is a Paletero and also suffers from diabetes. We struggled for many years living in an apartment on the third floor. My husband’s diabetes worsened, and his leg was amputated, and that’s when our real struggles began. He would have to crawl on his belly to reach the third floor. But we did not give up our search and were told about TRP’s Casa Maravilla. Today, we don’t struggle to get into our apartment; we have an elevator. We say yes to TIF; there are hundreds more like us.”

25th Ward Alderperson Byron Sigcho-Lopez said, “The TIF Industrial exists, the community has been misinformed, the amendment’s purpose is not to take money from the schools, on the contrary, we will ensure that Cooper has a place where our children have a decent place to play and that they also have air conditioning. We will invest not only in the schools and parks but also in the library so that the Rudy Lozano Library- the first library of the Mexican and Mexican American community in the Midwest. When the library expands, we’ll expand the archives of our community’s history. So that our young people and kids know where they come from with pride and dignity.”

The Pilsen TIF already exists to serve industrial needs. It is time now for the TIF to assist residents, struggling small businesses, and stakeholders—libraries, parks, and schools—to access the resources in the coming decade. The Pilsen Preservation Collective is a growing group of 25 Pilsen organizations that serve our community through housing, medical services, youth programs, educational resources, and faith-based programs.

Click on the link to sign the petition and learn more about the Pilsen TIF amendment: https://bit.ly/3M405A5. Photos available upon request.

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The Resurrection Project (TRP) builds trusting relationships to educate and propel individuals, immigrants, and families to achieve their social and economic aspirations, stable homes, and equitable participation in their community. TRP is a leading provider of affordable housing, financial education, and immigration services on Chicago’s Southwest side.

During the past three decades TRP has worked to improve the lives of individuals and families by creating wealth, building assets, and engaging residents to be catalysts for change. Rooted in the Pilsen community, TRP’s impact now extends across the City of Chicago and through the State of Illinois; we are making steady progress towards leveraging and preserving more than $1 billion in community wealth by 2025.