Chicago Business Leader Launches Bear Down Community Investment Group

Nonprofit aims to boost economic development across the Greater Chicago region through community partnerships.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 6:07pm

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Seretha McField-Gibbs, a Chicago business leader, has launched the Bear Down Community Investment Group, a nonprofit focused on expanding housing options, constructing mixed-use developments, strengthening local businesses, and building a skilled workforce across Illinois, with an initial focus on the Chicago Southland region.

Why it matters

The Bear Down Community Investment Group is aimed at serving as a 'missing link' between municipalities, community stakeholders, and organizations to stimulate economic growth in underserved communities across the region. This comes at a time when many Midwest contractors are struggling to fill open positions, and homelessness is an ongoing issue that requires more affordable housing development.

The details

The nonprofit is backed by a multi-million dollar, self-funded investment and will partner with organizations like Urban Terminal to launch registered apprenticeship programs to train new carpenters, plumbers, welders, and other skilled-trades professionals. In addition to acquiring and rehabbing commercial and mixed-use buildings, Bear Down will focus on affordable housing acquisition and development. The group has already connected with and plans to partner with municipalities in the Chicago Southland, including Park Forest and Rich Township, and aims to eventually scale the model statewide and nationwide.

  • Bear Down Community Investment Group was launched on January 29, 2026.
  • The nonprofit plans to initially focus on the Chicago Southland region, which includes five counties in Illinois and Indiana.

The players

Seretha McField-Gibbs

The founder and leader of the Bear Down Community Investment Group, a Chicago business leader who also founded the business consulting and construction management firm McField & Associates, Inc.

Trista Crudup

The founder of the nonprofit Urban Terminal, who is partnering with Bear Down to launch registered apprenticeship programs to train skilled trades professionals.

Christine Haley

The chief homelessness officer for the Illinois Department of Human Services, who welcomes Bear Down's commitment to expanding housing development across the Southland.

Calvin Jordan

The supervisor of Rich Township, who says a nonprofit like Bear Down is exactly the type of initiative that is thoughtfully designed for communities like his in the Southland.

Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce

The organization that plans to serve as a connector between Bear Down and community organizations.

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What they’re saying

“The conversations I'm having with the municipalities is, 'How can we help? What are your initiatives? What are your goals?' A lot of the municipalities don't have the resources, don't have the staff, so we're coming in and partnering with those municipalities, with community stakeholders [and] organizations that are already in existence.”

— Seretha McField-Gibbs (suntimes.com)

“We will be people builders, right alongside with the buildings that we erect.”

— Trista Crudup, Founder, Urban Terminal (suntimes.com)

“The commitment of Bear Down to expand housing development across the Southland is especially welcome at a time when we know that official measures of homelessness understate the problem. Building more housing is key to stabilizing the relentless growth of the price of life.”

— Christine Haley, Chief Homelessness Officer, Illinois Department of Human Services (suntimes.com)

“This collaboration adds tremendous value, accelerates and amplifies the township's economic development [and] workforce training and housing initiatives. This is exactly the type of initiative that is thoughtfully designed for communities like ours, here in the Southland.”

— Calvin Jordan, Supervisor, Rich Township (suntimes.com)

What’s next

Bear Down Community Investment Group plans to grow its model to a larger scale over time, expanding from the Chicago Southland region to statewide and eventually nationwide.

The takeaway

The launch of the Bear Down Community Investment Group highlights the growing need for innovative, community-driven solutions to address economic development, workforce training, and affordable housing challenges in underserved regions. By serving as a 'missing link' between municipalities, stakeholders, and organizations, the nonprofit aims to catalyze sustainable growth and opportunity across the Greater Chicago area.