At a recent workshop, council gave consensus on funding allocations for the Community Development Block Grant program, a national program whose goal is to develop viable communities by providing suitable living environments and expanded economic opportunities to low and moderate income residents.
With an estimated $400,000 to come through the state, this year nine capital improvement applications requested roughly $332,000 in funding. Those include programs like the Loaves and Fishes Cares Program and ADA improvements.
Social service not-for-profits also applied to receive local funding for their community programs from $500,000 available to divvy up.
While council approved funding, some members wanted to ensure applications are unique to their ask.
“I’d like to see us move to that with a little more intentionality as to when I see things that look to be duplicating or trying to do the same thing, I just want us to be cautious because this isn’t a lot of money and it’s a very important quality of life issue for us,” said Councilwoman Rebecca Boyd-Obarski.
The social services grants will be up for final approval at the March 21 city council meeting.
Naperville News 17’s Alyssa Bochenek reports.
