Uptown United



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Next SSA #34 Advisory Commission Meeting

The next meeting of the SSA #34 Advisory Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 4:30pm. For a listing of agendas and/or meeting minutes, click here.

Security Rebate Pilot Program Underway Camera

Uptown United is now accepting applications for the Uptown SSA#34 Security Rebate Pilot Program. This program will allow applicants to enhance the security of their business/property as well as the safety of the public areas in the commercial sections of the Uptown community.

The Pilot phase of this program will accept up to 10 applications. Applications will be considered in the order they are received.

Applicants must be licensed businesses, property owners/ managers and/or condominium associations located within the SSA's boundaries (see map). This Pilot Program offers grants reimbursing 50% of qualifying expenses up to $1,000 per request for commercial businesses, property owners, and/or condo associations complying with program requirements.

The following security system components of the qualify for reimbursement:

Installation of a camera/surveillance system that includes public way camera (public sidewalks, public alleys)
Purchase price or initial lease price of the public way portion of camera/surveillance system referenced above
Labor costs associated with above installations

Applicants of the must participate in the Private Sector Camera Initiative of the City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications. More info is at the OEMC website or can be downloaded here.

Click to download a PDF of the full guidelines & application. You can also request them or get more info by calling 773-878-1064, via fax 773-878-3678 or email to ssa@uptownunited.org.

SSA Description

Uptown SSA #34, established in December, 2005, covers the major commercial corridors including Broadway from Foster to Irving Park, Sheridan Road from Foster to Montrose, the commercial areas just north of Irving Park, as well as the commercial areas on Argyle, Lawrence, Leland, Wilson and Montrose. The largest portions of the SSA budget address cleanliness, including sidewalk snow removal, additional street and sidewalk cleaning and power washing of sidewalks. The SSA is partnering with Cleanslate, a project of The Cara Program. The concept for Cleanslate was created by a senior Goldman Sachs executive who spent a sabbatical with The Cara Program. He recognized the importance of work to the well-being of the individual and created the program to give people with barriers to employment the necessary job and communication skills to stay employed and provide for themselves. In Uptown, Cleanslate performs handsweeping and litter removal, snow removal and light landscaping tasks. Cleanslate recruits from local Uptown agencies to give people in Uptown the first chance to participate in the program. The SSA chose to partner with Cleanslate not only for their superior beautification skill but also because Cleanslate provides a real opportunity for individuals in Uptown to learn and apply new skills, improve their long-term job prospects, and make a real difference in the community.

The SSA also works on area marketing, including the recent banner program for Uptown. The goal is to get the maximum benefit from the program while keeping the additional tax rate as low as possible.

Development Partners

Community Partners

Business Partners