Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Cdbg topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Waukegan opens 30‑day public comment on 2026 CDBG action plan; $176,138 allocation outlined
Summary
City officials presented the draft 2026 Community Development Block Grant action plan and a 30‑day public comment period. Director Larissa Garland detailed $176,138 in proposed funding for 15 projects including park renovations, housing rehab and micro‑enterprise support.
Larissa Garland, the city’s director overseeing Community Development, told the Government Operations & Oversight Committee that Waukegan has been allocated $176,138 in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for program year 2026 and opened a 30‑day public comment period that the city intends to run June 10–July 11, with a council approval request scheduled for July 20. Garland said the city will submit the plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development after local approval.
The director outlined 15 proposed activities the plan would fund. The largest single line is $100,000 for Roosevelt Park renovations administered through the Waukegan Park District and $100,000 proposed for a micro‑enterprise and small business program. The action plan also proposes $175,000 for a housing‑rehab program, $135,911 for housing‑rehab administration and a $155,227 administration line representing the 20% CDBG administrative cap the director noted is statutory. Smaller public‑service grants listed include $15,000 to a local abuse‑support center, $13,000 to an elder‑care provider, and $8,000 to Northern Illinois Food Bank.
Aldermen pressed Garland on selection criteria, eligibility and the balance between grants to nonprofit service providers and direct homeowner assistance. Garland said award amounts follow CDBG rules — public services are limited to 15% of the total grant — and applicants undergo an application process that includes income‑qualification checks and review by a stakeholders participation panel made up of citizens who recommend funding amounts.
Garland said that for public facilities, the city may fund projects up to $100,000 and that public‑service awards generally range from $5,000 to $25,000. She told the committee that exact project budgets and final awards will be adjusted during the local approval process and in response to public comments received during the 30‑day window. The committee did not take a final funding vote at the meeting; Garland said she will return to council on July 20 with the final plan for approval and subsequent HUD submission.
