Illinois Medical District

📰 Read the June 2026 issue of The Catalyst newsletter for all the latest from the IMD including the chance to win $5,000, development opportunities, youth initiatives, park updates, community events, the impactful work of our partners, and more ➡️ imdchi.co/catalyst2606

Join us for a special IMD Route 66 Pride Walk on Friday, June 26 at 12 p.m.! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ We're meeting at the IMD Welcome Plaza (look for the big "IMD" letters) at 1900 W Ogden Ave and walking 1-mile down Route 66 (aka Ogden Ave) to show our IMD Pride, ending at Urban Autism Solutions Growing Solutions Farm (the farm stand will also be open for fresh locally grown produce). 🥕 We're also collecting gently used winter coats to donate to Taskforce Chicago, an LGBT nonprofit on the West Side. 🧥 As Route 66 celebrates its centennial, its legacy as a pathway to freedom, opportunity, and new beginnings continues to inspire new generations to explore, connect, and dream big about what lies ahead. During Pride Month, that spirit serves as a reminder of the journeys many LGBTQ+ individuals have taken in pursuit of acceptance, equality, and the freedom to live authentically. 💖 Remember to dress with pride, wear comfortable shoes, and we'll see you under the IMD sign! 🏁

Did you know there is a monument to Louis Pasteur in the IMD that was originally in Grant Park? That the IMD was home to the Chicago Cubs before they moved to Wrigley Field? Or that the Polk Pink Line station is dedicated to Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, a pioneering Black doctor? 🤔 On Tuesday, our staff was treated to a special preview of the IMD Walking Tour where past, present, and the future of the IMD combine to tell the story of our community and city going back to its beginnings in the 1800s. Guided by experts from Rush University System for Health and University of Illinois Chicago, and organized through Chicago for Chicagoans, you too can learn more about the history of the IMD and our partners on Saturday, June 27. Registration is free! RSVP here ➡️ imdchi.co/tour26

On May 22, we were excited to host the second annual recipients of our IMDC Scholarship Program for a lunch and awards ceremony. 🎓 Last year, we launched our first scholarships offering merit-based financial assistance to local students who demonstrate academic excellence. Congratulations to the 2026 recipients — we look forward to seeing the great things you do in the future as you further your education and careers! 👏 Bookmark imdchi.co/scholar and check back next spring for future IMD scholarship opportunities.

The IMD is open for business! 🏗️ Thank you to everyone who joined us last Thursday for IMD NEXT: Development & Opportunity Exchange. Representatives from the City of Chicago – Government, Cook County Government, Illinois EDC, West Central Association, and developers, contractors, and real estate professionals came together to explore development opportunities across the IMD, connect with industry leaders, and view the IMD's available land on a guided bus tour. With 25 acres of shovel-ready OZ/EZ/TIF land and more than 70k sq. ft. of available lease space, the IMD is the perfect place for your business to call home. 🦺 Learn more about the event ➡️ imdchi.co/imdnext or view available real estate ➡️ imdchicago.org/real-estate

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Calling all developers and contractors! 📢 Join us on Thursday, May 21 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. for IMD NEXT: Development & Opportunity Exchange. This interactive event brings together real estate professionals to explore land and lease opportunities in and around the IMD — including 25 acres of shovel-ready land and over 70k sq. ft. of lease space on the Near West Side. Enjoy networking, exhibitors, a bus tour and more. 🏗️ Learn more or RSVP ➡️ imdchi.co/imdnext

Route 66 turns 100 — marking a century of one of America’s most iconic roadways. 🚗 🏁 Check out this marker outside Cook County Health Stroger Hospital in the IMD to learn more. Known as the “Mother Road,” it connected Chicago to the West Coast, shaping travel, culture, and commerce across generations. As the official starting point, Chicago stands at the heart of this legacy, celebrating the history, stories, and spirit that made Route 66 a symbol of freedom and exploration. 🎂

Great job University of Illinois Chicago! 🌿

UIC researchers use mural art to raise awareness of invasive plant species UIC’s MEC Lab studies the traits that make invasive plant species harmful. Its new grant-funded mural project aims to promote mitigation and education.