McLean County health committee: nursing-home MEP phase underway; department watching potential loss of state grant funding

The McLean County Health Committee on Feb. 12 reported progress on the nursing-home mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) project and briefed the board on uncertainty surrounding a state grant after a federal action.

Member Burn said the third and final phase of the nursing-home MEP project — covering the kitchen, laundry and most offices — is underway. The nursing home has temporary support from the City of Bloomington for kitchen facilities and from the McLean County Jail for temporary laundry services during construction, she said.

Burn told the board that the county's public-health team learned of a federal action on Feb. 5 when the White House Office of Management and Budget directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to rescind about $699 million in funding to four states, including Illinois. The Health Department noted that this action "potentially impacts" the county's Strengthening Illinois Public Health Administration grant (a $350,000 award administered through the Illinois Department of Public Health) but reported the county received the grant funds up front at contract execution. The department said it is monitoring communications from IDPH and evaluating contingency plans for personnel covered by the grant.

The Health Committee also highlighted increased media outreach in 2025 (56 arranged interviews and 18 press releases that yielded 84 published stories) and vital-records work (serving more than 2,600 people and providing nearly 14,000 certificate copies in 2025).

What's next: County health staff said they will follow IDPH guidance and provide updates to the board if the legal or funding status changes.