Arlington Heights awaits federal grants

Most of the money Arlington Heights receives from federal community development funds will probably rehabilitate seven single-family homes owned by low- and moderate-income residents and go toward the debt on the purchase and construction of the senior center.

All but 15 percent of the money must be spent on bricks and mortar according to federal regulations, said Charles Witherington-Perkins, director of planning and community development, on Monday.

Only about $49,000 can be spent on social services and 15 agencies requested a total of $179,322 for such programs.

The village expects a federal grant similar to last year's $286,000 and also has an estimated $150,000 from repayments on previous single-family rehab loans and funds that were not spent last year.

The Village Board gave preliminary approval Monday to the staff recommendations for spending the grant money.

The largest grant for social services is $20,800 to help CEDA Northwest clients pay for day care - usually when they first get jobs or if they fall behind on their payments to the day care provider. Suburban Primary Health Care Council will receive $11,000 to help uninsured people get health care services.

$5,000 will be designated to the Arlington Heights Park District for scholarships for low- and moderate-income families using the Children At Play after-school program. The district requested $34,000 and last year had received $27,000 mostly from the general fund, not federal grants.

The allocations will be finalized March 1, and the village board will be able to make changes that night after a second public hearing. The funding amounts will be part of the five-year consolidated plan. Copies of a 137 page-long draft plan can be requested from the Department of Planning and Community Development. A survey to get public input on the plan has also been posted on the village Web site.