DuPage County committee votes to proceed with 2026 CDBG nonprofit capital round amid federal funding uncertainty

DuPage County Community Development Committee members voted to move forward with a 2026 Community Development Block Grant capital application round for nonprofit capital projects, while directing staff to notify applicants that federal funding for CDBG remains uncertain.

The vote came after staff explained that nonprofit capital projects require a capital needs assessment performed by a credentialed evaluator, that the county typically needs applications by October to finalize the county action plan in January, and that those assessments commonly cost “several thousand dollars.” Chair LaPlante proposed the approach of running the application round “as we always did with the understanding … that things are volatile and unpredictable,” and the motion passed on a roll-call vote.

Committee staff told members that the CDBG capital-improvement track balances funding between municipal infrastructure and nonprofit facility work; examples of past nonprofit recipients include the People’s Resource Center in Wheaton, Family Shelter Service, Ray Graham Association and Silla Homes. Staff explained that nonprofit requests often require more staff time because projects can be technically complex, may trigger federal procurement rules, and frequently need accurate cost estimates supported by a professional assessment to avoid midproject shortfalls.

Staff described the timeline pressures: to include 2026 projects in the county action plan, applications typically must be due by October so the county can prepare the plan for adoption in January 2026. The committee was told the county usually holds mandatory application meetings in August and that staff will want to finalize application guidance in July. Staff said the capital needs assessments are a required part of the application package and that the assessments commonly cost “several thousand dollars,” though the exact cost “depends on the organization and what kind of projects they’re contemplating.”

Member Honig and others asked whether the assessment cost would be a significant barrier for smaller nonprofits and whether the county could assist; staff replied that many smaller organizations lack in-house technical staff (engineers or architects) and that the assessment requirement exists to avoid underestimating project costs. Staff warned that projects with inadequate cost information can create situations where a project proves more expensive than budgeted and the county must either cancel the project or scramble to identify additional funds.

After discussion, the committee voted to proceed with the standard 2026 capital application process for nonprofits but with an explicit communication to prospective applicants that federal funding and program availability are unpredictable. Staff said they would continue outreach and prepare the application materials and schedule needed to accept capital applications.

The committee took no action to change the capital-needs requirement or to create a county-funded technical-assistance program during the meeting; those issues were discussed but no formal direction to create new county-funded assistance was recorded.

The meeting adjourned with the committee scheduled to reconvene on June 3.