About
A brand-new initiative with old-fashioned ambition: make it easier to start, build, and stay in Chester.
Chester had electric streetlights before Chicago did. Twain wrote about our riverfront. Being ahead is a local tradition.
01 / Resources
Every program, one door
Grants, loans, SBA programs, workforce training — collected, translated into plain English, kept current.
02 / Projects
Show the work
Storefronts, rehabs, new businesses — as they happen, we document them here so momentum is visible.
03 / Community
Built by neighbors
No agency, no consultants — people from Chester putting in the hours. There’s a seat for you.
Who we are
Neighbors, not an agency.
Names and faces here once our first organizing meeting seats the group (winter 2026).
FAQ
Straight answers.
What is Investing in Chester?
A neighbor-led initiative collecting practical resources, showing local work, and making it easier to start, build, and stay in Chester.
Who runs it?
Neighbors, not an agency. Names and faces will be here once our first organizing meeting seats the group in winter 2026.
Is this the city government?
No. Investing in Chester is a community-led initiative, not a city department or government agency.
How is it funded?
Details soon. We won’t claim a funding model before one is in place.
How can I help?
Join the newsletter, come to the first open session this winter, or bring us a project that needs a next step.
What kind of project can I bring?
A business idea, a building, or a skill to lend. Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll start there.