On Jan. 6, Chicago’s Planning and Development department announced grants to local businesses. Funkytown Brewery’s application garnered them a $3.7 million boost, if they can raise matching funds for their brewery concept.
“The grant is an amazing opportunity,” Rich Bloomfield, co-founder and CEO, said. “We’re raising funds to cover the other half. We’re looking at a spring 2027 launch. But it’s all depending on when we complete the funding. The build-out process and permitting processes should be about 9 to 10 months.”
Funkytown was launched in 2018 by three friends who graduated from Oak Park and River Forest High School. The brewery was a chance to combine their love of craft beer with outreach to a segment of the market that they didn’t feel had been fully tapped – Black, Latino, Asian, and women…