Kane County looks to create, retain jobs with anti-poverty dollars

A greater need for affordable housing, anti-poverty programs and money to fuel construction projects and jobs is in higher demand in Kane County than most years in recent memory.

So it was no surprise the county found itself flooded with applications for Community Development Block Grant money this year. The federal funds are specifically designed to address those issues.

Scott Berger, who oversees the grant program for the county, said this was one of the most competitive years ever for the money because more applications came in asking for higher dollar amounts than seen before.

The result was funding only 14 of the 24 requests and giving partial funding to projects that made the cut. Berger said funding priority was based on providing the most benefit to the greatest number of people and to projects with the potential to create or retain construction jobs. Roughly one-third of the construction work force in Kane County is currently unemployed, Berger said.

According to the county, about $1.7 million in CDBG funds will go to the following recipients:

1. Community Contacts, Elgin - $300,000 (owner occupied housing rehabilitation).

2. Northern Illinois Food Bank, St. Charles - $250,000 (community nutrition center).

3. Kane County - $243,000 (administrative costs).

4. Kane County - $190,890 (Ogden Gardens storm sewer project).

5. Carpentersville - $181,000 (street resurfacing).

6. Maple Park - $100,000 (water main replacement).

7. St. Charles - $80,000 (Walnut Drive reconstruction).

8. Association for Individual Development, Aurora - $73,231 (home renovations for safety).

9. Carpentersville - $60,000 (neighborhood improvement program).

10. Lazarus House, St. Charles - $58,000 (emergency shelter).

11. Hesed House, Aurora - $46,000 (PADS overnight emergency shelter).

12. PADS of Elgin - $40,000 (emergency shelter).

13. Neighborhood Housing Services of the Fox Valley, Elgin - $34,000 (homeownership education).

14. South Elgin - $31,000 (Gilbert Street sidewalk extension).

15. Continuum of Care - $8,000 (administrative costs).