**: China Overseas Chinese Network.
On February 29, the "Chinatown Better Solidarity Coalition" held a Chinese** press conference to inform that Chicago's Chinatown has become one of the ten designated cultural districts in the state of Illinois, USA. The picture shows a group photo of some of the guests attending the meeting.
According to the "Chicago Chinese Forum" newspaper, recently, Chicago's Chinatown officially became a designated cultural area in Illinois, USA. Overseas Chinese believe that this is a recognition and affirmation of the cultural characteristics of Chinatown, and it is also a measure to empower the further development of Chicago's Chinatown, which is still growing and expanding, which is rare in the United States. Residents and social organizations here are generally excited and welcome this.
On February 29, the Chinatown Better Solidarity Coalition held a Chinese** press conference to announce the news. The Alliance's Executive Director, Ben En Chen, thanked the community organizations and leaders for their support during the application process, and thanked all community members for investing in the future of Chinatown. In addition to Chinatown, six other communities or districts in Chicago, two in Springfield, and one in Champaign are also designated as cultural districts in 2023-24.
A state-designated cultural area is a community, town, or specific geographic area that has a unique shared historical and cultural identity that binds communities together. The intended purpose of this plan is to encourage economic development, support the preservation and development of important historical and cultural buildings, traditions and languages, promote local cultural development and education, and promote equitable growth and opportunity to avoid triggering demographic displacement.
Becoming a designated cultural district in Illinois means that Chinatown will be eligible to receive additional resources from the state** that can be used to protect local businesses, prevent existing residents from being forced to relocate, provide affordable housing, develop business opportunities, improve transportation, and more. Once a designated cultural area is established, recipients will be eligible to apply for $3 million in funding.
It is reported that these funds from the state will be tailored to the needs of individual cultural districts to promote economic development and help communities maintain their unique cultural identity. In the case of Chinatown, the Better Solidarity Coalition will be responsible for directing funding and programs. Chen Zenghua, the founder of the alliance, believes that the designation of Chinatown as a state cultural area is a promotion of social diversity and a manifestation of the greater emphasis on Chinese culture. (Reporter David Zhang).