Posted 8 days ago
5 MIN READ—Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA) and the Chicago Loop Alliance Foundation hosted their sold-out Annual Meeting on Friday, February 27. Nearly 500 key Loop stakeholders gathered during the breakfast meeting held at Convene Willis Tower. A panel discussion featuring Loop arts organization leaders and moderated by Deputy Mayor and Acting DCASE Commissioner, Kenya Merritt, focused on the intersection of the Loop’s growth and vitality with arts and culture.
“Chicago Loop Alliance remains committed to what we do well – advocating for the betterment of the Loop; beautifying and enhancing the district as a destination; and providing innovating programming to attract investment and activity,” said Michael Edwards, President and CEO of Chicago Loop Alliance. “In a year marked by major change for the organization, and the Loop, we are inspired by our stakeholders’ excitement for what the future holds – new programming, a new era of leadership, and more opportunities to advance our mission.”
2026 PROGRAMMING ANNOUNCED
Chicago Loop Alliance unveiled the new Loop Arts District, a collective of nearly 90 Loop arts organizations developing the Loop’s physical identity as a destination for arts and culture. The group is working with Arts Alliance Illinois and Sound Diplomacy to produce an economic impact study on the arts to be released in summer 2026, and will detail an array of public programming at a future date.
A two-year, $800,000 Department of Planning and Development grant through the Commercial Corridor Storefront Activation Program will support vacant storefront activation through small business support and direct community investment. Additionally, the Department of Family and Support Services awarded CLA a $1.1 million grant to expand its social service outreach program in the central business district. The program will begin in spring 2026.
NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ASSOCIATE BOARD INDUCTED
The organization elected its inaugural slate of 20 Associate Board members dedicated to reinvigorating the organization with fresh leadership. Eight new members were also inducted into the Chicago Loop Alliance and Foundation’s board of directors at the meeting, representing a wide breadth of industry knowledge, including finance, hospitality, technology, arts and culture:
- Brandon Allen, Target
- Zachary Blaner, JPMorgan Chase
- Rob Biederman, Google
- Lisa Dziekan, Clayco
- Jerald Hedrick, Bally’s Chicago
- Kirstin L. Jones, First Women’s Bank
- Rich Regan, The Auditorium
- Ahmad Shams, CenTrio
The full list of Board of Directors and Associate Board members can be found here.
2025 IMPACT REPORT
Chicago Loop Alliance unveiled its digital and print 2025 Impact Report, which summarizes the progress of the Loop and the organization.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
The Chicago Loop Alliance and Chicago Loop Alliance Foundation Annual Meeting was sponsored by Visionary Sponsors Streetplus and The Prime Group, Inc.; Arts Champion Sponsors CannonDesign and World Business Chicago; Cultural Advocate Sponsors Broadway In Chicago, CenTrio, CIBC, CityEscape Garden & Design, Goodman Theatre/John Collins, Public Communications Inc., Willis Tower, Wintrust, and Yellowstone Landscape; and Venue Supporter Convene.
