Community development block grants are generally smaller amounts awarded by Waukegan, North Chicago and Lake County to partially or fully fund projects that make a significant impact on people’s lives, like the renovation of Besley Park.
Located between two Waukegan Housing Authority projects near downtown with a large percentage of low-income seniors, the city of Waukegan awarded a $60,000 block grant to the Waukegan Park District to improve Besley Park.
Ben Richards, the Park District’s grants and special projects administrator, said the money was used to install fitness equipment and do some overall beautification work. It provides the residents of the housing projects a place to both relax and exercise.
“This was designed for all ages and abilities to exercise in a community setting, to create the benefits of a free fitness facility that is accessible for everyone,” Richards said. “We were able to do something for seniors and adults.”
All funding for the $4.2 million block grant program comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Laraesa Garland, the city’s director of community development block grants, said she worries about the government shrinking the amount of money going toward such programs.
“Over the last several weeks, we received calls from agencies outraged and concerned about the actions that the new Trump administration has taken on public services programs,” Garland said. “We are continuing to administer our program like we normally would until we know what’s going to actually happen.”
Waukegan, North Chicago and Lake County officials are now planning for the next round of block grant funding from the federal government, which traditionally provides smaller grants for people in need.
Of the $4.2 million provided by HUD and allocated locally, Waukegan received $1.338 million, Lake County $2.773 million and North Chicago $40,000.
Garland said she is proceeding as she has in the past to obtain as much as she can for the city. When she gets further guidance from HUD, she will take the necessary action to keep the program going.
Matt Meyers, the deputy Lake County administrator, said in an email that county officials will do everything they can to help the departments that rely on the block grant funding. In the past, grants have gone to several places providing services to residents.
“The county is actively evaluating all available options, in the event of a funding impact, across our various federal funding sources to support the numerous departments that depend on these resources to deliver their essential services,” Meyers said in the email.
Though concerned, Richards said he will look for as many avenues as possible to provide grants to complement the revenue the Park District receives from property taxes and fees paid by users of certain facilities.
“I’ve got to have confidence we will keep going forward,” Richards said. “I’m optimistic it will continue.”
Generally, Garland said the program helps public service programs, public infrastructure and facilities, economic development and the city’s housing rehabilitation program where homeowners can seek funds for things like replacing an obsolete air conditioner to sewer work.
Along with the help to individuals, Garland said the program provides smaller grants to organizations that rely on help from a variety of not-for-profit organizations like A Safe Place, Habitat for Humanity, PADS Lake County, the Youth Conservation Crops and Youth Build Lake County. Last year, those grants ranged from $5,000 to $15,000.
In the past year, Dominic Strezo, the county’s community development administrator said block grant money has gone to the renovation of a senior living center in Grayslake, a sanitary sewer lining project in North Chicago, a mental health center in Libertyville and the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie.
