Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller Secures Millions in Funding for Local Communities

Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller announced recently that she has secured funding to help improve our local communities.

Earlier this Summer, the Cook County Board of Commissioners approved funding through the Invest in Cook Grant Program, Community Development Block Grant Program (CBDG), the Emergency Solution Grant Program, and the HOME Investments Partnerships Program to help further increase access to housing, expand employment opportunities, spur business growth and development, enhance infrastructure, and restore our community by supporting local nonprofits serving those in need.

“This crucial funding supports a variety of business, infrastructure, and community development activities primarily designed to benefit low and moderate income individuals. I’m proud to have secured funding for initiatives across the Southland to enhance our local businesses, improve our infrastructure, and support our great local nonprofits.

These specifically targeted areas allocate resources to those in our community who need it the most,” said Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller. “These funds are going to those areas most in need that can provide the strongest return on investment, and I look forward to seeing these dollars put to good use.”

This year, Commissioner Miller has secured a total of nearly $3 million through these grant programs, for some of the following local municipalities: Chicago Ridge, Glenwood, Matteson, Oak Lawn, and South Chicago Heights to execute capital improvements to their streets through resurfacing, sewer line, and water line replacement.

Additional CDBG funds are also going toward non-profit and social service organizations that cover the 6th District, including ANEW: Building Beyond Violence and Youth, which serves victims of domestic violence who are facing homelessness; Southland Development Authority, which provides industry, workforce, housing and community assistance to spur economic growth in the South Suburbs, as well as to The Boys and Girls Club, Chicago West Community Center, and the Homewood Science Center for additional youth programming.

The Invest in Cook Program is allocating funding towards covering the cost of planning and feasibility studies, engineering, right-of-way acquisition, and construction associated with transportation improvements sponsored by local and regional governments and private partner. With over $1 million going towards projects in the Sixth District.

This Program includes funding for the Glenwood-Homewood Trail Connection, new construction on the Justice Northside Sidewalk Project, engineering grants for the Natalie Creek Trail Multi-Use Path in Midlothian, sidewalk extensions for Oak Forrest High School on Central Avenue, and road reconstruction on Forest Boulevard and Norwood Boulevard in Park Forest.

Over the coming months, Commissioner Miller will be meeting with community leaders to discuss how the funding will be deployed and the ways in which this funding will best serve our communities.