South East Chicago Commission (SECC)

What South East Chicago Commission (SECC) does

The South East Chicago Commission (SECC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit economic development organization serving five Southeast Chicago lakefront communities — Hyde Park, Kenwood, Oakland, Washington Park, and Woodlawn — and operating with a 70+ year institutional history currently in its sixth executive directorship. SECC functions as a delegate agency of the City of Chicago's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection via its Neighborhood Business Development Center (NBDC) designation, and additionally manages Special Service Area #61 (Downtown Hyde Park Chicago). Its core service lines include small business consultation and technical assistance, micro-grant administration through the Shirley J. Newsome Beautification Program (up to $5,000 per organization, with more than $1.5M distributed to 200+ projects since 1999), the seasonal Hyde Park Farmers Market, the Arts & Culture Capital Lab for creative entrepreneurs, and civic convening events including the annual Southside Connection Symposium (300+ attendees) and the 17th Annual Woodlawn Community Summit (450+ attendees).

SECC's programmatic portfolio is delivered through a small professional staff led by Executive Director Diane Burnham (appointed December 2017) and supported by a Board of Directors and community volunteers. The organization operates no proprietary technology; its infrastructure relies on standard non-profit tooling including PayPal (donations), Eventbrite (event registration), Constant Contact (email newsletter), and SNAP/Link Up Illinois integrations at the farmers market for food access.

Revenue is sourced from a diversified mix of foundation grants (MacArthur Foundation, Chicago Community Trust, Chicago Community Loan Fund, Compeer Financial), government funding (Cook County, City of Chicago), corporate sponsorships (Allstate as presenting Symposium sponsor, Comcast NBC Universal, CIBC, Hyde Park Bank, University of Chicago Medicine), event ticket revenue (e.g., $75 Night at the Theatre tickets), and individual donations. Strategic partners include the University of Chicago Office of Civic Engagement, the Obama Foundation (tied to the 2026 Obama Presidential Center opening in Woodlawn), Choose Chicago, the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Self-Help Federal Credit Union, and Court Theatre, among others.

Name

South East Chicago Commission (SECC)

Legal name

South East Chicago Commission

Website

https://secc-chicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The South East Chicago Commission (SECC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit economic development organization providing small business assistance, micro-grants, civic convening events, and the Hyde Park Farmers Market to businesses and residents of Chicago's Southeast lakefront communities (Hyde Park, Kenwood, Oakland, Washington Park, Woodlawn).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Government Grants: SECC receives funding from foundations (MacArthur Foundation, McArthur Baker Foundation, Chicago Community Trust, etc.) and government sources (Cook County, City of Chicago) to support economic development programs.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: The organization accepts charitable donations through PayPal and other channels to support community programs. SECC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
3. Event Revenue: SECC generates revenue through event ticket sales, such as the Night at the Theatre fundraiser ($75 per person for reception and theatre, $25 for reception only) and symposium registrations.
4. Sponsorship Partnerships: Corporate sponsors support SECC events and programs, including Allstate as presenting sponsor for the Symposium, along with Comcast NBC Universal, CIBC, Chicago Community Loan Fund, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SECC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit economic development organization that facilitates and supports economic development across five Chicago Southeast lakefront communities (Hyde Park, Kenwood, Oakland, Washington Park, and Woodlawn). Its core offerings include operating as a delegate Neighborhood Business Development Center (NBDC) for the City of Chicago, managing Special Service Area #61 (Downtown Hyde Park), administering the Shirley J. Newsome Beautification micro-grant program (up to $5,000), running the Hyde Park Farmers Market, and convening annual civic and economic development events such as the Southside Connection Symposium and Woodlawn Community Summit.

Product overview

SECC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that facilitates and supports economic development within Southeast Chicago lakefront communities (Hyde Park, Kenwood, Oakland, Washington Park, and Woodlawn). The organization operates as a unified platform offering multiple interconnected programs: as an NBDC delegate agency it provides small business development services; through SSA #61 it manages the Downtown Hyde Park business district; it operates the Hyde Park Farmers Market and Arts & Culture Capital Lab; it administers the Shirley J. Newsome Beautification micro-grant program; and it convenes major civic events including the annual Southside Connection Symposium and Woodlawn Community Summit. All programs work together to advance community investment, job creation, and economic vitality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Neighborhood Business Development Center (NBDC) Services
• Special Service Area #61 (SSA #61) - Downtown Hyde Park
• Hyde Park Farmers Market
• Arts & Culture Capital Lab (ACCL)
• Shirley J. Newsome Beautification Program
• Southside Connection Symposium
• Woodlawn Community Summit
• Small Business Connection Series
• SmallBiz Shop Local

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1 million in beautification grants distributed since 1999, funding more than 200 community projects
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Chicago Office of Civic EngagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing strategic partner since the first Woodlawn Summit in 2009. The University provides resources and venue support for SECC programs including the Woodlawn Community Summit. Partnership includes collaboration on community development, civic engagement, and economic vitality initiatives.
• Hyde Park BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKey partner for the Hyde Park Farmers Market, providing sponsorship support. Also participates in SECC events and programs, with representatives on panels and providing business development resources.
• Special Service Area #61 (SSA #61)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSECC partners with SSA #61 (Downtown Hyde Park Chicago) to co-produce the Hyde Park Farmers Market, arts and culture programs, and neighborhood beautification initiatives.
• AllstatecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for the annual Southside Connection Symposium. Provides financial support for SECC's flagship economic development event.
• Choose ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourism partner collaborating on symposium panels and promoting South Side economic development opportunities.
• CIBC BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSymposium sponsor supporting economic development programming.
• Self-Help Federal Credit UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial partner providing business resources including the Business Boost Loan Program and Small Business Loans for SECC-connected entrepreneurs.
• Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and InnovationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Chicago program partner providing Tech Enablement Workshop Series, Market Navigator Program, and SBDC services to SECC network.
• Obama FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for economic development opportunities related to the Obama Presidential Center opening in Woodlawn in 2026.
• Comcast NBC UniversalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSymposium sponsor supporting SECC events and programming.
• Court TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner venue for A Night at the Theatre annual fundraiser, hosting SECC community events and theatrical performances.
• University of Chicago MedicineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor for Hyde Park Farmers Market and community health initiatives.
• Jackson Park ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for economic development and preservation initiatives related to South Side development.
• Emerald South Economic Development CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for economic development initiatives on Chicago's South Side.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kenwood Oakland Community Organization (KOCO): Community organization serving the Kenwood and Oakland neighborhoods within SECC's own service footprint, focused on community development, civic engagement, and quality-of-life programming.
• Greater Southwest Development Corporation (GSDC): Chicago CDC serving the southwest side with similar SSA management, small business support, and community development programming. Operates at a comparable scale with the same nonprofit economic development model.
• Emerald South Economic Development Collaborative: Chicago South Side economic development organization explicitly listed as a SECC partner, focused on South Side economic development initiatives with comparable programmatic approach.
• Washington Park Consortium: Community development organization serving Washington Park, one of the five neighborhoods in SECC's direct service area, with overlapping programmatic focus on quality-of-life and economic development.
• Quad Communities Development Corporation (QUAD CDC): Chicago South Side community development corporation serving Bronzeville, Douglas, Grand Boulevard, and Hyde Park neighborhoods. Operates with a similar multi-program economic development model and overlapping geography with SECC.
• Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation: Chicago CDC serving South Side neighborhoods through business district management, workforce development, and community programs, with comparable structure and mission to SECC.
• Austin Coming Together: Chicago West Side community development collaborative coordinating economic development, workforce, and quality-of-life initiatives across multiple partner organizations, structurally similar to SECC's convening model.

Broad incumbents

• Chicago Urban League: Major Chicago-based economic and civil rights organization focused on economic opportunity, workforce development, and community empowerment for disinvested neighborhoods. Operates at larger scale but with overlapping mission and target population.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Chicago: Major national community development financial institution with deep Chicago presence. Funds and supports many CDCs and community organizations across the city, operating at significantly larger scale than SECC but in the same economic development space.

Regional players

• Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT): Chicago-based national organization working on equitable economic development and sustainable urban communities. While more research-and-policy focused than SECC, both share a mission of advancing prosperity in disinvested Chicago neighborhoods.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hydeparkchicagofarmersmarket
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-east-chicago-commission
• Instagraminstagram.com/hpchicagofarmersmarket

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South East Chicago Commission (SECC)