Arlington Hts. agencies get little federal funding
Mike Sidor called it “gut wrenching,” and Arlington Heights Village President Arlene Mulder said it’s always difficult for new trustees when service agencies ask for a share of federal funding and go away with a small fraction of their requests.
The village had less than $40,000 of Community Development Block Grant funds to distribute to agencies that had requested $142,000.
Trustees agreed with staff recommendations to give 12 agencies approximately what they had received last year and refuse to fund four other organizations that were not on the list last year.
Final action will be taken March 5, and residents are invited to comment.
The village can fund $203,915 in construction or economic development projects and will put $150,000 of that toward debt reduction on the Senior Center and $53,915 toward the single-family rehab program. Staff members also recommend spending $61,000 on staff and administrative costs.
The single-family rehab loan program funding is way down because only $10,500 was repaid last year. The money is repaid when homes are sold, and in the past this has been as much as $100,000 a year, said Nora Boyer, housing planner for the village.
Sidor singled out Northwest CASA, which helps victims of sexual assault, saying the group works with people in crisis, and he wished it could get at least an even $500 rather than $410.
After the meeting Sidor also said it was a shame that the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana did not get any money for a program to teach girls living on the backstretch at Arlington Park about nutrition, fitness and self-esteem.
Maria Martinez, director of membership for the Girl Scouts, said the six-week program originated last year and served 250 girls in Arlington Heights and Cicero.
CEDA Northwest will receive the largest social service grant, $16,000 to subsidize day care for low and moderate-income parents.
The village will reject three requests for money for capital improvements.
CEDA asked for $29,000 to replace HVAC systems at Wright House, which has 11 units where rents are subsidized while staff helps families become independent.
Little City Foundation requested $29,000 for roof repair and replacement for a group home for people with developmental disabilities in the 1300 block of West Euclid Avenue and window replacement at one in the 2600 block of North Raleigh Street.
The Housing Authority of the County of Cook requested $71,000 for repairs to make an apartment building for senior citizens and disabled residents of Goedke House, 215 W. Miner St., more accessible and to repair the roof.