Waukegan holds 30-day public hearing on draft 2025–2029 consolidated plan and 2025 action plan allocations

Director Garland opened a public hearing on the City of Waukegan’s draft consolidated plan for program years 2025–2029 and the 2025 annual action plan, describing how federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME funds would be used in the coming year.

The consolidated plan is a required HUD strategic document that guides a locality’s use of federal housing and community development funds. Garland said Waukegan is an entitlement community that receives CDBG funds directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and HOME funds through the Lake County HOME Consortium, which includes Waukegan, Lake County, and North Chicago.

Garland summarized the agencies and programs recommended for funding in the draft 2025 action plan. The proposal lists partners including Safe Place, Elder Care, Habitat for Humanity, Northern Illinois Food Bank, PADS Lake County, Prairie State Legal Services (disability and fair housing programs), YouthBuild Lake County, Zachariah Center and others. He said the committee’s selected allocations total $110,000 for these nonprofit programs (identified as about 15% of the HUD grant allocation), and that the city’s CDBG entitlement for the year is $735,595. HOME funding for Waukegan was listed as $266,402 and is designated for substantial housing rehabilitation and related program administration.

Garland explained the large reduction in funding compared with last year (he described an approximate $70,000 decrease) and noted the city’s housing rehab line in the draft budget is low—$50,000—because staff have an outstanding competitive grant application for roughly $1,500,000 that would supplement the rehab program if awarded. “We put in for $1,500,000. We don’t know if we’re going to be funded and if we are, how much,” Garland said.

On program mechanics, Garland said most nonprofit awards would be reimbursed: agencies must submit invoices and documentation (often showing personnel costs) before receiving funds. He also described the microenterprise small-business program: awards are limited to businesses with five employees or fewer, must be located in Waukegan and have been in existence at least one year; individual awards can be up to $25,000 and the proposed microenterprise pool for 2025 is $200,000 (upfront grants).

Garland warned that HUD’s IDIS reporting system is not pulling up-to-date statistics nationwide; the draft contains older HUD-generated numbers that staff could not change. The city will publish the draft for a 30‑day public comment period from June 16 through July 17, and Garland said the council is scheduled to consider the final plan on July 21 and submit it to HUD the following day.

Nut graf: The consolidated plan hearing lays out how Waukegan plans to spend roughly $735,595 in CDBG funds and $266,402 in HOME funds for 2025, and it opens a 30‑day comment window while staff await corrections to HUD’s automated statistics and the outcome of a pending $1.5 million rehab grant application.

During Q&A, aldermen asked for clarifications on totals and program limits. One alderman pointed to two totals on the summary and asked whether the higher figure included HOME funding; Garland confirmed the $735,595 is the CDBG allocation and the $266,402 is HOME. Another alderman asked why some nonprofits received $10,000 while Habitat and PADS received larger awards; Garland said allocations were based on scored applications, timeliness of reporting, performance, and demonstrated need. On housing rehab, Garland reiterated that HOME funds are more restricted (for substantial rehabilitation) while CDBG is more flexible and can be used for emergencies, and that the city’s small $50,000 line for housing rehab reflected staff expectations about the pending $1.5 million grant award.

The committee closed the hearing by motion; roll call recorded aye votes and the hearing was closed at about 5:36 p.m. on June 16. The draft consolidated plan and the 2025 action plan will remain available for public comment through July 17; staff said comments can be submitted by email or mail and that notifications have been posted in both English and Spanish.

Ending: The city will return to the council on July 21 for final approval and plans to file the consolidated plan with HUD on July 22 if approved. The draft action plan, the list of recommended nonprofit awards, and instructions for submitting written comments are posted in BoardDocs and on the city website.