Cinnaire announced the closing of an $8.5 million investment in New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) to support the expansion of The Field School, a pre-K-8 private, nonprofit Christian school serving Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. This investment will enable The Field School to expand its facilities and continue providing high-quality education to a diverse and underserved student population.

Since its founding in 2017, The Field School has been dedicated to offering a rigorous and holistic education to students from diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. The school’s distinctive approach emphasizes classical education, arts programming and strong community engagement. The expansion will consolidate The Field School’s operations into a single campus, enhancing the educational experience for its students and accommodating its growing enrollment.

The NMTC investment will be directed toward the rehabilitation of the historic Francis Scott Key School building, transforming it into a modern educational facility. Once completed in 2025, Phase 2 will add 100 new student seats, increasing the total capacity of The Field School to 360 students. The $18 million project will renovate the 60,000 square-foot building to include 12 additional classrooms, an auditorium, a gym, 11 offices, a conference room and a new elevator.

“The Field School’s expansion is a testament to the power of community investment and the importance of accessible, high-quality education,” said Peter Giles, Cinnaire SVP Public Funding. “We are proud to support this transformative project that will provide a state-of-the-art learning environment for students in one of Chicago’s most underserved neighborhoods.”

“We are excited about the opportunities that Phase 2 will bring to our students and the Austin community,” said Jeremy Mann, Head of School at The Field School. “The support from Cinnaire and the NMTC investment will allow us to provide even more children with an exceptional education.”

The Field School’s journey began with 45 students in a leased space and has grown significantly, since 2022, expanding capacity to 260 students. The success of Phase 1, funded by an earlier NMTC allocation, paved the way for this next critical phase of development.

The completed project will not only offer improved facilities but also contribute to the revitalization of the Austin neighborhood, bringing new opportunities and resources to the community.