A Chicago startup that specializes in recycling and sourcing unused items, like scientific equipment and office furniture, is teaming up with the City of Chicago to help source personal protective equipment (PPE) for local nonprofits and businesses as the city gears up to reopen this summer after virtually shutting down due to Covid-19.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and World Business Chicago announced the partnership with Rheaply at a Friday afternoon press conference, saying the initiative will give business owners and other types of organizations access to protective shields, reusable face masks and hand sanitizer.
The program, dubbed Chicago PPE Market, will be facilitated through Rheaply’s Asset Exchange Manager, and users will be able to buy PPE at cost-controlled rates, according to the city.
Organizations can register for the program for free and get connected with a network of local manufacturers and suppliers that provide PPE supplies. The platform goes live on May 26.
Businesses expected to reopen in early June with capacity limits include coffee shops, restaurants, salons and hotels, Lightfoot said. City Hall is also expected to reopen in June.
“One of the things we’ve consistently heard from businesses large and small is this constant scramble just to even get access to the basics,” Lightfoot said at the press conference. “So we wanted to focus on Chicago and local businesses that provide these materials, and give an access point because that in-and-of-itself has been a problem.”
Founded in 2015 by CEO Garry Cooper, Rheaply set out to offer a subscription service to businesses and organizations that allows them to sell, rent and donate items they no longer need.
Rheaply, which describes itself as a resource-sharing network, has helped organizations recycle and source items in a number of industries, including higher education, healthcare, technology, government and retail. When a monetary transaction takes place, Rheaply takes a small fee.
Earlier this year, Rheaply raised $2.5 million in a seed round led by Chicago-based Hyde Park Angels and inked a partnership with Northwestern University to help the college source coronavirus supplies.
“Reopening this city safely means working together,” Cooper said in a statement. “As a Chicago small business ourselves, we are committed to helping protect our community; using our technology to help other organizations access affordable protective supplies is how we’re putting that commitment into action.”
