West Side United hospitals, in collaboration with JPMorgan Chase, Northern Trust, Accion Chicago and community leaders announced a total of $500,000 in grants to support small business growth and boost commercial activity in under-resourced West Side neighborhoods. As part of this initiative, LiveEquipd will receive $$$ in funds to assist with the creation of an online platform which serves the needs of the disabled community.

West Side United seeks to improve neighborhood health by addressing inequality in healthcare, education, economic vitality and the physical environment using a cross-sector, place-based strategy. Partners include healthcare providers including AMITA Health, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Cook County Health,  Rush University Medical Center, Sinai Health System and UI Health, community organizations, residents, the faith-based community, business, government and others working together to coordinate investments and share outcomes.

LiveEquipd was one of 447 applications for this year’s grants. Thirty-eight percent of applicants said that they needed more capital to grow, and nearly two-thirds are minority, low to moderate income and women.  In addition to LiveEquipd, 28 small businesses will be receiving up to $25,000 and start-up businesses up to $13,000.

Learn more about West Side United and its partners in economic vitality at: www.westsideunited.org. 

LiveEquipd is a multi-sided platform that empowers people with paralysis related disabilities and their support system to quickly and efficiently navigate the product landscape to find the innovative products and assistive technology they need. For more information, contact andre@liveequipd.com.