Chicago sees improvements ahead of DNC

Next week, the DNC rumbles into town after years of planning, posturing and preparing Chicago for the intense national spotlight.

The big picture: Gov. JB Pritzker and then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot made big promises should Chicago be chosen as a host city — including not incurring any extra debt . Since then, we've been waiting to see what kind of ancillary improvements could accompany the event.

Here are three improvements in Chicago that are a direct result of convention prep:

New train station

The CTA sped up its timeline to get a new stop at Damen on the Green Line that will service the near West Side community, which just so happens to be near the United Center. The end result is a sleek, modern transit station for all to use.

• Bonus: Check out this impressive video on the race to get it built.

Public art

Mayor Johnson and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) unveiled artist-designed CTA train wraps this week. They include works from artists like Bob Faust, Carlos Rolón and Esperanza Rosas.

• The wraps are designed to beautify the train system for DNC participants, but that doesn't mean it won't also brighten Chicagoans' days.
• The mayor announced several public mural projects featuring Chicago artists that will be unveiled this fall, in neighborhoods including Humboldt Park, Woodlawn and Uptown.

Scholarships/Money

The Chicago 2024 Host Committee announced a $150,000 donation to the Choose Chicago Foundation. The money will be used for scholarships for high school and college-age students to help them enter the tourism and hospitality industries.

• The committee also launched a digital ad campaign to promote Chicago neighborhoods.