SPRINGFIELD (Heartland Newsfeed) -- The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced that 26 communities and townships across the state received block grant money, according to a press release released Tuesday.
The recipient announcement is related to applications received for public infrastructure as related to the Community Development Block Grant. $12.5 million was distributed for this block grant.
The grants will help low-income communities across the state undertake desperately-needed public infrastructure projects, such as water plant improvements, water main extensions and replacements, upgrades to sewer plants and lift stations, separation of storm and sanitary sewers and construction of new water towers.
“It is important the state support public infrastructure improvements as they become the backbone of future growth and economic development”, said Governor JB Pritzker. “This year, DCEO had a forty percent increase in applications for this grant indicating the great need in our communities.”
Funding for the public infrastructure block grant program is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and is allotted for communities who cannot secure block grant funding from HUD directly.
Among the recipients include the following:
Fayette County: $500,000 for a water main extension
Village of Illiopolis: $500,000 for water distribution improvements
Village of Latham: $500,000 for water distribution improvements
Mount Auburn Township: $500,000 for water distribution improvements
Village of Mount Auburn: $500,000 for water distribution improvements
City of Neoga: $500,000 for wastewater treatment plant and sewer lagoon improvements
City of Newton: $495,000 for a water main replacement
Village of Niantic: $500,000 for water distribution improvements
City of Olney: $411,530 for water main replacements
Village of Sandoval: $500,000 for storm and sanitary sewer separation
Communities interested in applying for 2020 program year funding may attend DCEO’s CDBG Application and Administrator’s Workshop, scheduled for February 25-27, 2020 in Springfield.  For more information call 217-785-6174 or e-mail ceo.cdbg@illinois.gov.

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