Latest news with #HarvestMarket
Chicago Tribune
01-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Improvements underway along 10th Street Corridor; ‘Helping to turn it back into what it was with a new vibe'
The Urban Muslim Minority Alliance (UMMA) is expanding the Harvest Market food pantry — which was opened nearly a year ago and designed as a grocery store — and making strides in creating a community center next door. For more than a year, UMMA has increased its presence in the 10th Street Corridor, which separates Waukegan and North Chicago. While work is being done, Executive Director Hamaas Ibrahim said the people who live in the area will have a say in what is done. With the market already well-established, an addition is being built in the space where a delicatessen once stood between the market and the one-time Catholic school, which will house the community center. UMMA has ideas, but Ibrahim said advice is being sought. 'We're going to have a town hall,' Ibrahim said. 'We want to hear what the neighbors in Waukegan, North Chicago and the greater Lake County community have to say. We want to know what they want.' Construction of the Harvest Market addition started on June 16 on 10th Street in Waukegan, with completion planned in August, while work is underway to prepare the community center for its eventual renovation. When done in September, Ibrahim said the addition to the market will be a multipurpose area serving as a break room for the workers, and a place for additional food storage to assure a supply of fresh produce and other food for the clients. Working with the city of Waukegan on the community center at what was once a Catholic school purchased from the Archdiocese of Chicago in October, Ibrahim said UMMA now has a demolition and remediation permit to prepare much of the building for a gut renovation. Planning to keep the classrooms and the gym with its basketball court as part of the community center, Ibrahim said completion is a long-term project. He hopes to start the renovation late this year or early next year, with completion in 2027 or 2028. Once a thriving working-class neighborhood, UMMA is part of the effort to revive the 10th Street Corridor, putting its market and community center on nearly a block of the roadway immediately west of McAlister Avenue. Both Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham and North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr. said they are pleased to see UMMA part of the effort to improve the 10th Street Corridor. During his youth, Cunningham walked or rode his bicycle to work along the roadway. 'The 10th Street of old was a booming business area,' Cunningham said. 'In the last 10 to 15 years, it's struggled with violence and homelessness. UMMA is helping to turn it back into what it was with a new vibe, which will bleed into rebuilding Waukegan.' Early last year, the North Chicago Police Department opened a substation on the south side of 10th Street, which serves as a community center some of the time. Rockingham said the added police presence has benefited both cities. 'I'm glad to see what UMMA is doing on 10th Street to help the community,' Rockingham said. 'They're giving the residents of North Chicago and Waukegan the ability to receive food and be a community. It's a benefit for all who need the services.' Since the Harvest Market opened in August, Ibrahim said it is now open five days a week instead of four, with Wednesday devoted to senior clients. It is open from 2 to 6 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, as well as from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays. 'When we started, clients could take 15 items a week,' Ibrahim said. 'Now they can take 25 items. They use shopping carts just like a grocery store.' As UMMA starts to renovate the former school, Ibrahim said it is stripping the walls down to the studs to make sure there is no asbestos or mold. If there is, it will be removed before further work is done. 'We'd like to have open gym, and basketball tournaments in the gym,' Ibrahim said. 'We'll have a kitchen for healthy cooking classes. We'll move some of our classes from downtown (Waukegan) to 10th Street. There's a bus stop at the corner, making it accessible for those without a car.' Classes will include career readiness, English as a second language, Spanish — beginning and advanced — Microsoft Office, basic computer use and more. 'The classrooms will be bigger than we have now,' Ibrahim said. 'We'll have yoga and healthy motion classes.'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Riggs Brewery partners with CU union to highlight veterans
URBANA, Ill (WCIA) — With Memorial Day weekend coming up fast, an Urbana brewery is highlighting a union's program for veterans. Riggs Brewery is partnering with UA Local 149 Plumbers and Pipefitters. They canned a limited-edition American lager with a design specially made for the union. The focus: Local 149's Veterans in Piping program. It provides service members with training and direct entry into the union's world-class apprenticeship program. 'Click it or Ticket' ahead of Memorial Day, Champaign Co. Sheriff says 'We love supporting our veterans in any way we can,' said Matt Kelly, Local 149 Business Manager. 'We have a lot of veterans who we've helped get really great careers after their service in the military. We love this partnership. We love what the United Association, our international union, does to support veterans. So this is just a little thing we can do to highlight that and kind of bring recognition to the program.' Kelly said Riggs made 1,500 cans which can be found at the brewery or select grocery stores. The Schnucks in both Savoy and Champaign will get them Friday as well as Harvest Market in Champaign. He also said they're looking for a veteran-focused organization to donate some of the proceeds to. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
