Community Investment Corporation

08/19/2026

As summer comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to recognize and celebrate the contributions of CIC’s summer interns.

Throughout the season, our interns have brought fresh perspectives, curiosity, and enthusiasm to their teams while gaining valuable experience in affordable housing, community development, and commercial real estate.

We’re kicking off our intern highlights with Anna!

Anna is a member of the Princeton University Class of 2027 studying Economics.

This summer, Anna supported CIC's Credit Administration team, where she assisted with portfolio reviews by analyzing financial statements, inspection data, and property tax information. Through this work, she gained a deeper understanding of how these different pieces of information come together to help monitor commercial real estate loans.

Anna is grateful for the opportunity to learn more about commercial real estate finance, strengthen her analytical skills, and work alongside CIC’s supportive team.

Stay tuned as we continue highlighting the talented interns who joined CIC this summer!

08/18/2026

Join CIC Property Management Training as we return to North Lawndale on Saturday, August 22 for a day of learning, connection, and networking.

Hosted by Lawndale Christian Development Corporation & Friends, this training will provide property managers with valuable tools and resources to strengthen their ability to effectively operate and manage rental properties.

A special thank you to our community partners and hosts: Lawndale Christian Development Corporation, North Lawndale Home Owner’s Association, North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council, and New Covenant CDC for helping bring this training opportunity back to the neighborhood.

Whether you’re looking to expand your property management knowledge or connect with others in the field, we encourage you to join us!

https://bit.ly/4zoXnfW

08/10/2026

As Chicago's pipeline of new apartment construction slows, preserving and improving the housing we already have is more important than ever.

In this recent article, CIC Managing Director of Lending Phil Moore shares what makes CIC's lending approach different and how we're continually adapting to changing market conditions to meet the evolving needs of our borrowers while preserving affordable rental housing.

Read the full story to learn more about how CIC is helping strengthen Chicago's existing housing stock.

https://bit.ly/4bGymmo

CIC has rehabbed nearly 70,000 units through roughly 2,800 loans totaling $1.8B since 1984.

07/01/2026

Congrats to Austin Coming Together for their incredibly hard work leading to the acquisition of the historic J.J. Walser House in the Austin neighborhood! Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and an official Chicago Landmark, this property is one of just five remaining buildings from FLW's Prairie period and the only Wright-designed single-family home on the West side.

Community Initiatives Inc., a subsidiary of CIC, acquired this property through a Fannie Mae program for transfer to ACT to assist in the preservation process. CII's acquisition program allows for quick, nimble, and creative transactions to meet the unique needs and challenges that come along with vacant and distressed real estate. The City of Chicago's Department of Housing also played a crucial role by providing a grant under its Troubled Buildings Initiative program, leading to a more affordable and feasible acquisition for ACT. CII and CIC were honored to play a small part in this huge project and look forward to seeing this building brought back to life for the Austin community under the leadership of ACT and other neighborhood organizations!

https://bit.ly/44Ae0qW

Recently foreclosed, the house on Central Avenue is now in the hands of Austin Coming Together, a community development group that plans an extensive rehab.

06/11/2026

We're still reflecting on the incredible conversations, connections, and insights shared at our Neighborhood Forum!

Thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible and supporting stronger communities through affordable housing and neighborhood investment.

To our Resource Fair participants—Cook County Assessor’s Office, Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), Neighborhood Building Owners Alliance (NBOA), Associated Bank, Elevate, Sunshine Enterprises, and the City of Chicago Department of Buildings—thank you for providing valuable resources and support to attendees.

A special shout-out to Michelle Dokes Photography for hosting our popular headshot station, giving attendees the opportunity to update their professional photos and invest in their professional development.

We also thank Geoff Smith for framing the conversation with current multifamily rental housing data trends, and Joanna Trotter for serving as moderator and facilitating an engaging discussion, along with our panelists—LaJune Yancy, Maggie Cassidy, Sam Lounsberry, Mark Swartz—for sharing their expertise, experiences, and perspectives.

We appreciate everyone who attended and contributed to the day’s success. Your engagement and commitment to strengthening neighborhoods helped make this year’s forum such a meaningful and impactful event!

05/01/2026

Registration is open for our Annual Neighborhood Forum taking place on May 19, 2026.

This year’s panel brings together leading voices in housing, policy, journalism, and community development to discuss:
Keeping it Local: How Chicago Owners Are Key to Disrupting Irresponsible Investors

Panelists will explore how local ownership, accountability, and community insight can help protect and strengthen Chicago’s neighborhoods.

Panelists include Joanna Trotter, Mark Swartz, LaJune Yancy, Sam Lounsberry, Maggie Cassidy, and featured speaker Geoff Smith.

Also included: an expanded Resource Fair, networking opportunities, and complimentary headshots with registration!

Register now: https://www.ticketfalcon.com/e/cicforum2026/

04/13/2026

Registration is now open for our Annual Neighborhood Forum on Tuesday, May 19, 2026!

We’re excited to once again bring together more than 200 neighbors, local multifamily developers, community leaders, and partners for this important event.

This year’s forum panel theme, “Keeping it Local: How Chicago Owners are key to disrupting irresponsible investment,” highlights the vital role local developers and owners play in maintaining a responsible multifamily housing market. This panel will explore the contrast between local stewardship and outside investment—and what can be done to strengthen and protect Chicago’s neighborhoods.

Our expanded Resource Fair will offer opportunities to connect with lenders, service providers, and industry partners, and a complimentary professional headshot station will be available with advance registration.

More details coming soon—Register today to secure your spot!

https://www.ticketfalcon.com/e/cicforum2026/