Fillmore Center Laundry Linen
Program Overview
The Fillmore Center Laundry Linen project is a large-scale economic development initiative facilitated by West Side United. It aims to localize hospital linen services—such as cleaning sheets, gowns, and other materials—that have historically been outsourced to vendors outside of Chicago and even outside of Illinois. The initiative reflects West Side United’s role as a convener, bringing together healthcare partners, developers, workforce agencies, and community voices to create a sustainable, community-based solution.
Instead of building a new facility, the project was launched in an existing building in North Lawndale—owned and rehabilitated by one of the program’s funders—to accelerate the timeline and reduce risk. This adaptive reuse approach made it easier for hospital partners to commit, as they were initially cautious about transitioning to a new, untested vendor.
The facility is outfitted with commercial-grade infrastructure—steamers, washers, folders—to support large-scale linen processing. The core idea is simple but powerful: redirect existing hospital procurement toward a local operation, generating economic and employment benefits for the community.
Key Partners and Impacts
The Steans Family Foundation played a central role as both a funder and property owner, investing heavily in renovating the facility. West Side United coordinated negotiations between hospitals and the developer, aligning the service model, price point, and service quality with hospital needs.
Among West Side United anchor hospitals, Rush University Medical Center has moved its laundry processing to the facility, while Lurie Children’s Hospital has signed on for partial service. These early adopters serve as anchors and validation for the model.
Critically, the facility emphasizes local hiring. Between the launch in March 2024 and May 2025, over 100 residents from the West Side have been hired with a goal of scaling to 300 employees as demand grows. West Side United collaborated with North Lawndale Employment Network and Skills for Chicagoland’s Future to recruit, train, place and provide sustained support for employees.
Additionally, there are significant environmental sustainability benefits for participating hospitals. A local linen reduces greenhouse gas emissions from reducing transportation distances, and modern and efficient washers save millions of gallons of water each year and reduce energy use by reclaiming wastewater.
Long-Term Vision
The long-term vision of the Fillmore Center is twofold:
For the Center to be a hub for catalytic business development across industries.
To grow a stable pipeline of qualified local employment by scaling operations and supporting job seekers through professional development and social supports.
Ultimately, the project represents a replicable model of “anchor institution procurement” aligned with economic justice. As more hospitals come on board—especially as existing contracts expire—the initiative hopes to transform how healthcare systems invest in local economies.
The end goal is for Fillmore Center to become a self-sustaining local industry hub, creating hundreds of jobs and establishing a long-term anchor employer in North Lawndale.
