Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago) members may submit nominations for the Community First Awards beginning today, January 15. These awards recognize members and their local partners for their work in building and strengthening communities. This year, FHLBank Chicago added three new award categories to recognize extraordinary community development efforts in Illinois and Wisconsin.

The 2021 Community First Award categories are:

• Affordable Housing

  Recognizes an exceptional effort to increase or strengthen affordable housing opportunities in Illinois and/or Wisconsin communities.

• Economic Development

  Recognizes an extraordinary effort to foster economic growth or community revitalization in Illinois and/or Wisconsin communities.

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

  Recognizes an organization or coalition dedicated to advancing the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the affordable housing and/or economic development space in Illinois and/or Wisconsin.

• Emerging Leader
  Recognizes an outstanding emerging leader relatively new to the affordable housing and/or economic development field (defined as fifteen or fewer years).

Read the nomination form for full category descriptions.

Members must submit nominations to ci@fhlbc.com by Friday, February 12. Awardees will be featured at the FHLBank Chicago’s virtual member meetings in April and receive $10,000 to direct to a nonprofit of their choosing.

If you have questions, please email ci@fhlbc.com.