Overview

• Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago has announced a $17.6 million investment in predominantly Black and Latino owned businesses to provide food for asylum seekers.
• The initiative partners with the Greater Chicago Food Depository and the state of Illinois to support 18 minority-owned businesses.
• Business owners involved in the program have reported significant benefits, including increased revenue and operational improvements.
• The mayor's focus on racial equity in the program has sparked controversy, with critics questioning the exclusion of other businesses.
• Johnson has defended the initiative as central to addressing the needs of asylum seekers and supporting minority communities in Chicago.