Madison County Board accepts $1.76 million in CDBG‑CV CARES Act funds and authorizes multiple COVID grant applications

Madison County’s board on May 20 approved a package of grant actions to direct federal and state pandemic relief to housing and community services. The board authorized a substantial amendment to the Consolidated Plan to accept $1,755,949 in Community Development Block Grant CARES Act (CDBG‑CV) supplemental funding and unanimously approved several related grant actions.

The Grants Committee also authorized submission of a 2020 Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) COVID‑19 application for approximately $903,669 to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and a COVID‑19 Emergency Homeless Lodging sub‑recipient application for approximately $48,000 to All Chicago on behalf of the department. The board authorized 2021 Emergency Solutions Grant (approximately $93,094) and 2021 Emergency Transitional Housing Grant (approximately $95,000) applications. In addition, the board approved a $75,000 Park & Recreation loan to the Village of Hamel, subject to standard conditions and security agreements.

Committee chairs said the CDBG‑CV money will be used countywide for eligible activities that benefit low‑ and moderate‑income residents, prevent or eliminate slums and blight, and to meet urgent needs created by the pandemic. The Grants Committee named the Community Development Department as the county’s administering agency for these funds.

All measures from the Grants Committee were approved by the board by voice vote with no recorded nays (ayes: 28; nays: 0). The county said the Community Development Department will follow federal rules and HUD guidance when allocating CDBG‑CV funds and will publish required substantial amendments and certifications.