Local programs in line for Kane County's riverboat cash
More than 40 Kane County charitable organizations, community groups and government agencies will split nearly $1 million in county riverboat grants under a proposal unveiled this week.
The Boys & Girls Club of Elgin, the Salvation Army of Elgin and Aurora's Hesed House homeless shelter are in line to receive $100,000 each - the largest grant available for a single project.
Other major benefactors were the University of Illinois Extension-Kane County with $96,000 and CASA Kane County, the county's court-appointed special advocate program, with $50,000.
The county board's three-member riverboat grant subcommittee gave preliminary approval for the grant disbursements Wednesday. The executive committee also must sign off on the amounts before they're approved by the county board.
Subcommittee members spent an hour paring down $6 million in requests for 95 projects. To be eligible for funding, projects must promote environmental protection, education or economic development.
Of those funding requests recommended for approval, most amounts were cut in half by the committee because of limited funds. Applicants are encouraged to seek additional sources of funding to supplement the riverboat grants.
The Salvation Army of Elgin requested $100,000 to establish a Carpentersville office and develop a literacy program to serve the village's sizable Spanish-speaking population. The committee recommended funding the full amount of the request.
"There's no question that there's a need in Carpentersville for this program," said committee member John Noverini, a Republican who represents the area.
Since 1997, Kane County has received funds from the Grand Victoria riverboat casino in Elgin. The money is used to fund programs throughout the county.
The county's 2008 riverboat proceeds are estimated at $7.2 million. Of that, nearly $3.4 million has been allocated to internal county projects, including grants to the Child Advocacy Center and the state's attorney's office's domestic violence unit. Another $2 million is earmarked for the farmland preservation program.