Elgin finds too few dollars for social funding requests

Four Fox Valley area groups came up empty this week as they tried to get a slice of a $836,000 funding pie provided by the federal government.

Elgin leaders were faced with tough choices to divvy up Community Development Block Grant funds.

In all, 10 groups asked for a total of $1.15 million.

"I wish we had more (funds) because there are so many good projects here," said Councilman John Walters.

The Boys and Girls Club of Elgin asked for $60,000 to help fund its Project Learn and Power Hour programs, which provide tutoring and other assistance to about 125 area students ages kindergarten through sixth grade.

But the city denied that request, along with three others:

• $90,000 for the Fox Valley Mental Health Foundation to buy an apartment building

• $25,000 for a vocational training program for the Aurora-based Quad County Urban League, and

• $69,000 for the Neighborhood Housing Services of Fox Valley to start a homeownership preservation program.

Rose Reinert-Allen, executive director at the Boys and Girls Club, said the programs will go on despite the funding denial.

"What we'll do is seek other funding sources," she said Thursday. "The city is very supportive of us in many ways. It's not an easy job deciding who gets what."

The city staff did recommend funding for six groups.

They are: $602,330 for the city's Community Development Groups residential rehabilitation grant program; $45,576 for the Housing Authority of Elgin to install security cameras and doors; $33,423 for the Elgin Day Care Center's child development program; $56,043 for the Well Child Center's exterior renovation project; and $50,000 for a renovation for the Renz Addiction Counseling Center.

Jerry Deering, the city's community development director, said the city council will take a final vote on the grants on April 9.

In the meantime, a public comment period will run through March 19.

For more information, call (847) 931-6100.