Rep. Foster's Community Project Funding Selections

Community Project Funding (CPF) allows Members of Congress to request direct funding for projects that benefit the communities they represent. Learn more about the projects Rep. Foster has requested funding for and those he has helped fund in our district:

FY 2026 Community Project Funding Selections

The below CPF requests from Congressman Foster to the House Appropriations Committee, in no particular order, were submitted for FY 2026:

Illinois Route 47 Expansion and Water Main Relocation

$3,000,000

City of Woodstock

121 W. Calhoun St, Woodstock, IL 60098

The funding will be used towards funding the City of Woodstock's share of the Illinois Department of Transportation's IL-47 widening project, which includes the relocation of a city-owned water main, upgrades to lights and traffic signals, pavement resurfacing, and the construction of roundabouts, sidewalks, and a multi-use path. This project will improve road safety and enhance opportunities for regional economic development and tourism in McHenry County.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Boone County Emergency Operations Center

$857,250

Boone County Illinois Emergency Management Agency

615 N. Main St, Belvidere, IL 61008

The funding will be used to purchase new technology for the Emergency Operations Center including computers, live-streaming equipment, and radio consoles to support law enforcement and first responders. This project will equip Boone County with the tools needed to quickly respond to natural disasters and manage crises effectively across the region.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Second Fire Station for the Village of Hampshire

$1,000,000

Hampshire Fire Protection District

202 Washington Ave, P.O. Box 245, Hampshire, IL 60140

With their current fire station hindered by railroad traffic, this funding will be used for a second fire station in the Hampshire community – significantly improving emergency response time and increasing the fire station's capacity to serve the growing community.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

City of Batavia Fox River Bike Path

$9,000,000

City of Batavia

100 N Island Avenue, Batavia, IL 60510

The funding will be used to construct a new segment of the Fox River Regional Trail with improved safety and guidance features. With the variety of outdoor recreational uses for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists that the trail provides, this project will support its continued role as an economic driver for the region.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Eola Road Branch Library Renovation

$8,200,000

Aurora Public Library District

101 S River Street, Aurora, IL 60506

The funding will be used to renovate pre-existing infrastructure at the Eola Road Branch: the busiest location of the Aurora Public Library District. This project will support the expansion and accessibility improvements needed to address diverse community needs including access to technology, language services, meeting rooms, educational programming, and space for after-school activities.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Village of Holiday Hills Sanitary Sewer Extension

$5,000,000

Northern Moraine Wastewater Reclamation District (NMWRD)

113 Timber Trail, Island Lake, IL 60042

The funding will be used for the continuation of a multi-phased project extending NMWRD-owned sanitary sewers to two unsewered communities in a flood plain, thereby improving quality of life and water safety for the Village of Holiday Hills and surrounding communities.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Weber Road Corridor Improvements: 135th Street to Airport Road

$1,500,000

Will County

302 N Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432

The funding will be used to complete the final segment of the Weber Road corridor improvements with increased accessibility for pedestrians and motorists.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Equipping the Kane County Forensic Laboratory

$2,681,000

Kane County Coroner’s Office

37W699 IL-38, Building A, St. Charles, IL 60175

The funding will be used to purchase post-mortem toxicology testing equipment, validate DNA equipment, and implement a laboratory information management system. This project will help generate leads in criminal investigations, streamline the process of obtaining information related to pending court cases, and help determine the cause of death in a timely manner for grieving families.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

City of Aurora Homelessness Prevention

$1,968,750

City of Aurora

44 E. Downer Place, Aurora, IL 60507

The funding will be used to renovate the existing Family Shelter space or to acquire an expansion property to increase the availability of shelter and services for Aurora’s unhoused community.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

91st Street Infrastructure Transportation

$750,000

DuPage County Division of Transportation

421 N County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187

The funding will be used for the construction of a sidewalk and pedestrian lighting system to a local school and public transportation to assist families with limited income. This project will remove existing transportation barriers that contribute to the social and economic isolation of over 3,500 residents in this community.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Village of Wauconda Lead Service Line Replacement – Phase 1

$3,140,000

Village of Wauconda

101 N. Main Street, Wauconda, IL 60084

The funding will be used to replace 289 lead and galvanized service lines. This project is vital for protecting the health and safety of residents in the Village of Wauconda from potential lead contamination.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

City of Crystal Lake Lead Service Line Replacement

$4,000,000

City of Crystal Lake

100 W. Woodstock Street, Crystal Lake, IL

The funding will be used to replace approximately 2,000 residential lead service lines in Crystal Lake. In addition to ensuring residents have safe drinking water, this project will also create job opportunities for construction workers and plumbers.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Springbrook Water Reclamation Center Expansion

$5,000,000

City of Naperville

400 South Eagle Street, Naperville, IL 60540

The funding will be used to partially cover the cost of expanding and upgrading the water treatment plant to remove grit and sludge. This project will extend the life of the facility and ensure all water discharged into the DuPage River is in compliance with state and federal regulations.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Darrell Road Collection System

$3,000,000

Northern Moraine Wastewater Reclamation District (NMWRD)

113 Timber Trail, Island Lake, IL, 60042

The funding will be used to provide sanitary sewer service to unsewered areas of Lake and McHenry Counties. NMWRD's existing sewer infrastructure limits the growth potential of underdeveloped property and the addition of sewer conveyance and a lift pump station will remedy this barrier.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Lead Water Service Line Replacement

$3,500,000

City of Aurora

44 E. Downer Place, Aurora, IL 60507

The funding will be used to replace the remaining lead water service lines within the City's system. This project replaces an estimated 20,000 lead service lines to provide safe potable water and comply with state law.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

FY 2025 Community Project Funding Selections

The below CPF requests from Congressman Foster, in no particular order, were submitted to the House Appropriations Committee for FY 2025.

Unfortunately, no Community Project Funding for any congressional district was included in the latest government funding bill (H.R. 1968, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act), which passed the House and Senate and was signed into law.

Illinois Route 47 Expansion and Water Main Relocation

$4,000,000

City of Woodstock

121 W. Calhoun St, Woodstock, IL 60098

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Boone County Emergency Operations Center

$800,000

Boone County Illinois Emergency Management Agency

615 N. Main St, Belvidere, IL 61008

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Second Fire Station for the Village of Hampshire

$1,000,000

Hampshire Fire Protection District

202 Washington Ave, P.O. Box 245, Hampshire, IL 60140

With their current fire station hindered by railroad traffic, this funding will be used to build a second fire station for the Hampshire community – significantly improving emergency response time and increasing the fire station's capacity to serve the growing community.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

City of Aurora Emergency Operations Center

$1,425,000

City of Aurora

44 E. Downer Place, Aurora, IL 60507

The funding will be used to construct a new Emergency Operations Center with new software, IT security, and equipment, which will allow the City of Aurora to better respond to emergencies.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

City of Batavia Fox River Bike Path

$8,166,000

City of Batavia

100 N Island Avenue, Batavia, IL 60510

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Eola Road Branch Library Renovation

$8,200,000

Aurora Public Library District

101 S River Street, Aurora, IL 60506

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Village of Holiday Hills Sanitary Sewer Extension

$6,700,000

Northern Moraine Wastewater Reclamation District (NMWRD)

113 Timber Trail, Island Lake, IL 60042

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Weber Road Corridor Improvements: 135th Street to Airport Road

$1,500,000

Will County

302 N Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432

The funding will be used to complete the final segment of the Weber Road corridor improvements with increased accessibility for pedestrians and motorists.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Equipping the Kane County Forensic Laboratory

$2,681,000

Kane County Coroner’s Office

37W699 IL-38, Building A, St. Charles, IL 60175

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

City of Aurora Homelessness Prevention

$1,968,750

City of Aurora

44 E. Downer Place, Aurora, IL 60507

The funding will be used to renovate the existing Family Shelter space or to acquire an expansion property to increase the availability of shelter and services for Aurora’s unhoused community.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Willowbrook Corners Infrastructure and Mobility

$750,000

DuPage County Division of Transportation

421 N County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187

The funding will be used for the construction of a sidewalk and pedestrian lighting system, and to support a partnership with Pace Suburban Bus to pilot a mobility program aimed at assisting families with limited income. This project will remove existing transportation barriers that contribute to the social and economic isolation of over 3,500 residents in this community.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Village of Wauconda Lead Service Line Replacement – Phase 1

$2,800,000

Village of Wauconda

101 N. Main Street, Wauconda, IL 60084

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

City of Crystal Lake Lead Service Line Replacement

$4,000,000

City of Crystal Lake

100 W. Woodstock Street, Crystal Lake, IL

The funding will be used to replace approximately 2000 residential lead service lines in Crystal Lake. In addition to ensuring residents have safe drinking water, this project will also create job opportunities for construction workers and plumbers.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Springbrook Water Reclamation Center Expansion

$3,700,000

City of Naperville

400 South Eagle Street, Naperville, IL 60540

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

FY 2024 Community Project Funding Selections

The below CPF requests from Congressman Foster, listed in no particular order, were funded for FY24.

Establishment of a Forensic Science Center in Kane County, Illinois

Kane County Coroner's Office

37w699 IL-38, St. Charles, IL 60175

Amount Funded: $963,000

The Kane County Coroner’s office will use this funding to establish a forensic science center in conjunction with the Kane County Sheriff’s Office and the Kane County State’s Attorney's Office. This project will help generate leads in criminal investigations, streamline the process of obtaining information related to pending court cases, and help determine the cause of death in a timely manner for grieving families.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

City of Belvidere Appleton Road Grade Separation

City of Belvidere

401 Whitney Blvd, Belvidere, IL 61008

Amount Funded: $1,666,279

This funding will be used to build a grade-separation structure over two existing Union Pacific Railroad crossings along South Appleton Road in the City of Belvidere. Building these structures will allow nearby manufacturing plants to expand and will improve safety for emergency vehicles and commuters using this road.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

McHenry County College Foglia Center Workforce Training Equipment

McHenry County College 

8900 US Highway 14, Crystal Lake, IL 60001

Amount Funded: $1,060,000

McHenry County College will use this funding to buy workforce training equipment for its new Foglia Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation. This project will support workforce training in robotics, engineering, and manufacturing, expanding opportunities for students and strengthening the local workforce. 

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Ladder Truck for Elburn and Countryside Fire Protection District

Elburn and Countryside Fire Protection District

200 East Route 38, Elburn, IL 60119

Amount Funded: $1,000,000

With this funding, the Elburn and Countryside Fire Protection District will purchase a Tower Ladder Truck. The purchase will decrease response times, mitigate risks for firefighters, and save lives as District firefighters will no longer have to wait for outside departments to supply an aerial device when responding to emergencies. 

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Village of Burlington Wastewater Collection and Treatment Design Engineering

Village of Burlington

175 Water Street, P.O. Box 205, Burlington, IL 60109

Amount Funded: $600,000

The Village of Burlington plans to design a sanitary sewer collection and treatment system for the Village. The future construction of a wastewater collection and treatment system in Burlington - which is currently unsewered - will promote economic growth and facilitate affordable housing developments. 

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

City of Crystal Lake Re-Establishment of Crystal Creek

City of Crystal Lake

100 W. Woodstock Street, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Amount Funded: $1,383,069

This funding will support construction to re-establish Crystal Creek between Lake and Highland Avenue and remove the existing storm sewers in the City of Crystal Lake. This project will allow flood water to flow in the designated creek area, reduce the level of flooding in the surrounding area, improve water quality, and create new habitats for aquatic life.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Boys & Girls Club Aurora Clubhouse in Aurora

Boys & Girls Club

355 Dundee Ave, Elgin, IL 60120

Amount Funded: $500,000

This funding will support the construction of a 45,000-square-foot Boys and Girls Club clubhouse in Aurora, which will include a gymnasium, stage, kitchen, learning center and library, STEM lab and art room, leadership center, sensory room, urban garden, and administrative wing. The clubhouse will provide structured, high-impact programs focusing on academic success, healthy lifestyles, and leadership skills.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

McHenry County UP-NW Woodstock Rail Yard Project

McHenry County

16111 Nelson Road, Woodstock, IL 60098

Amount Funded: $850,000

This project will build a new and improved rail yard northwest of downtown Woodstock to replace existing facilities in Barrington and Crystal Lake. The new rail yard will streamline Metra’s operations and increase storage capacity, enabling Metra to run more frequent service on the UP-NW line, including to Woodstock and McHenry County.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

City of Aurora - Replacement of Lead Water Service Lines

City of Aurora

44 E. Downer Place, Aurora, IL 60507

Amount Funded: $959,752

The City of Aurora will use this funding to replace all remaining lead water service lines within the City’s system, ensuring Aurora complies with a 2021 Illinois lead replacement law and can provide safe, potable water to residents without having to raise utility rates. 

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Village of Bolingbrook Water Reclamation Plant #3 Expansion Project

Village of Bolingbrook

375 W Briarcliff Rd., Bolingbrook Illinois 60440

Amount Funded: $959,752

The funding will be used to complete the construction of the West Side treatment plant at the Indian Boundary Water Reclamation Facility. With the new treatment plant, the Village of Bolingbrook will be able to meet Illinois Environmental Protection Agency phosphorus and nitrogen discharge requirements and increase its capacity for future development.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

North Moraine Wastewater Reclamation District Centralized Wastewater System Improvement

Northern Moraine Wastewater Reclamation District (NMWRD)

113 Timber Trail, Island Lake, IL 60042

Amount Funded: $959,752

This funding will extend NMWRD-owned sanitary sewers to two unsewered communities in McHenry County. The project will improve water safety and quality of life for residents and help to mitigate floods.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Village of Lemont Rail Safety Improvement Project

Village of Lemont

418 Main Street, Lemont, IL 60439

Amount Funded: $500,000

The funding will meet the funding gap for the Lemont Rail Safety Improvement Project, an ongoing effort to improve at-grade rail crossings in or near the Village of Lemont’s historic downtown. The project will address rail crossing deficiencies at multiple locations to improve pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle safety and help the Village reach its long-term goal of achieving quiet zone status.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

City of Aurora Combined Storm and Sanitary Sewer Infrastructure Project

City of Aurora

44 E. Downer Place, Aurora, IL 60507

Amount Funded: $959,752

The funding will be used to install new storm sewers that remove curb inlets from combined storm and sanitary sewer infrastructure as mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency. The new storm sewers will improve Fox River water quality and reduce the likelihood of basement backups in residential homes by addressing overflows and other issues created by the combined storm and sanitary sewer system. 

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Pace Electric Paratransit Buses for McHenry County

Pace Suburban Bus

550 W. Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005

Amount Funded: $1,000,000

Pace Suburban Bus, a public transportation agency in Northeastern Illinois, will use this funding to purchase five battery-electric paratransit buses for use in McHenry County. The new buses will encourage commuters to use public transit, reduce carbon emissions and air pollution, lower Pace’s maintenance costs, and insulate the agency from fuel price volatility.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

FY 2023 Community Project Funding Selections

The below CPF requests from Congressman Foster, listed in no particular order, were funded for FY23.

Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry

834 N Highland Ave, Aurora, IL 60506

Amount Funded: $1,800,000

This enhanced response to food insecurity will be undertaken through formalized collaborations with service partners and novel education program development. The project includes purchase of property across the street from the current facility and use of that property for coordinated access to critical wrap around services from community partners on food distribution days. Moreover, expansion includes desperately needed renovations to the purchased site and the current food distribution center to improve safety, flow, access and client dignity.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

DuPage Township Government

241 Canterbury Ln, Bolingbrook, IL 60440

Amount Funded: $3,000,000

The DuPage Township Food Pantry & Resource Center in Bolingbrook, Will County, will be a new, centrally-located building construction to house a food pantry and resource center for low-income residents of DuPage Township to address food insecurity and Social Determinants of Health.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Fox Valley Park District

101 W Illinois Ave, Aurora, IL 60506

Amount Funded: $4,000,000

This project consists of final engineering and construction of a 780' long bicycle and pedestrian bridge spanning the Fox River. The project eliminates a major barrier to trail access.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

University of St. Francis

500 Wilcox St, Joliet, IL 60435

Amount Funded: $500,000

This project will provide accelerator funds and mentorship to businesses and entrepreneurs in under-served categories, offer community-based programming, and additional programs to close the gap for businesses founded by Minorities, Women and Veterans.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

United Way of Will County Mental Health Program K-12

54 N Ottawa St STE 300, Joliet, IL 60432

Amount Funded: $884,000

Funding will be used for launching the Resilient Youth program consisting of 22 training sessions for 529 teachers which will impact 26,186 students throughout Will County. This will be an ongoing program which will impact students in all grades K-12.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity

1300 S Broadway Rd Suite 101, Montgomery, IL 60538

Amount Funded: $1,250,000

The Fox Valley Habitat Green Freedom 17 home neighborhood is a breakthrough project for Habitat for Humanity's mission to provide affordable homes for hard working families of low to moderately low income. The funds requested will be used to provide the infrastructure for the neighborhood, including water and sewer lines, streets, sidewalks and stormwater mitigation.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

VNA Health Care

400 N Highland Ave, Aurora, IL 60506

Amount Funded: $500,000

Funding will be used to support the construction of a new healthcare center in Joliet built on land already owned by VNA. It will support 24 examination rooms, a wellness kitchen, waiting areas, lab, nursing stations, and mental and behavioral health service department.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

City of Naperville

400 S. Eagle Street, Naperville, IL 60540

Amount Funded: $900,000

This funding will support Naperville Riverwalk Eagle Street Gateway and Accessibility Improvements.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Pace, the Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transportation Authority

550 W. Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights, IL, 60005

Amount Funded: $1,200,000

Pace proposes to build (on the existing site) a building with public restrooms, vending machines, and signage with real-time bus departure information. The new facility would be fully accessible to people with disabilities and would offer a considerably more welcoming environment for transit riders who are currently exposed to heat and cold as they wait for a bus. Pace has successfully deployed indoor waiting areas at other park-n-rides along I-55 and seek to bring a similar upgrade to Bolingbrook.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Aurora University

347 S Gladstone Ave, Aurora, IL 60506

Amount Funded: $955,000

Funding Request for the Emerging Technologies Learning Lab is a one-time request to purchase technology and equipment to create three high-impact learning spaces within the Lab: Virtual Reality Classroom, Visualization Room, and Workplace Simulation. This innovative and dynamic center for student success will include experiential and immersive learning opportunity powered by emerging technologies such as virtual reality, mixed reality, and augmented reality.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Association for Individual Development (AID)

309 W New Indian Trail Ct, Aurora, IL 60506

Amount Funded: $3,000,000

AID, Hesed House and The Neighbor Project have formed a partnership to purchase and renovate an existing apartment building in Aurora, IL into a mixed-use Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) + Pathway to Homeownership residence.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

City of Aurora Public Safety Technology Project

44 E Downer Pl, Aurora, IL 60505

Amount Funded: $2,280,000

The Aurora Police Department is in the process of upgrading the technology infrastructure to improve public safety. The project is taking a holistic approach that includes the 911 Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), the camera/recording system in the interview rooms and the phone system in the city's 911 Dispatch center. The PSAP will improve the effective delivery of emergency communications to first responders. The backup 911 Dispatch center at Fire Station 8 and the main Aurora Police Department 911 Dispatch center will be modernized with new and advanced workstation consoles, enhanced innovated noise control solutions, and next generation technologies/capabilities.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

City of Aurora "Montgomery Rd/Hill Ave Intersection"

44 E. Downer Pl, Aurora, IL 60505

Amount Funded: $1,000,000

The project consists of improving the intersection of Montgomery Road and Hill Avenue by modernizing traffic signals, reconstructing and widening the roadways to include additional travel (through) lanes & turn lanes, constructing bike paths and sidewalks, making ADA ramp improvements, making a right-of-way acquisition to do the improvements, working on drainage, and other pertinent improvements. The project will improve traffic capacity, safety and traffic operations while minimizing environmental impacts.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

City of Joliet – Creation and Support of Regional Water Authority

150 W. Washington St. Joliet IL 60432

Amount Funded: $3,452,972

This funding will be used to support the creation of a regional water authority and construction of the infrastructure to bring Lake Michigan water to Joliet and surrounding towns, pursuant to their local agreement, in order to reduce the overall burden of the cost of water on property owners in the region.

Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure letter.

Will County Project - Rt 53 Bike Path

17540 W Laraway Rd, Joliet, IL 60433

Amount Funded: $1,100,000

Will County and the Forest Preserve District of Will County are working in tandem to establish safe pedestrian accommodations from the Route 53 corridor to the regional trail systems of Will County and beyond. This project is currently in the feasibility phase. The Forest Preserve has evaluated potential routes and determined that the proposed alignment utilizing the Commonwealth Eddison Utility corridor is the ideal route. The approximately 1.34 mile, 10' wide asphalt trail would connect multiple residential developments along Route 53 to a school, regional trail systems, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, and local businesses.

FY 2022 Community Project Funding Selections

The below CPF requests from Congressman Foster, listed in no particular order, were funded for FY23.

360 Youth Services

1035 Oswego Road, Naperville, IL 60540

Amount Funded: $3,000,000

360 Youth Services is one of only two major LGBTQ+ homeless and at-risk youth housing organizations within the state of Illinois. 360 Youth Services is seeking a Youth Affordable Housing Resource Center to provide youth-specific housing and homelessness prevention services in DuPage, Kane, Will and the additional surrounding counties.

The Center will be a regional access point for trauma-informed mental health care, crisis intervention, family services, vocational training, educational support, rental assistance, legal aid and LGBTQ+ affirming services for ages 13-24. Non-congregate design will provide safe shelter during health emergencies, ability to meet changing needs for shelter, and safe, dignified shelter for youth of all gender identities and sexual orientations.

City of Joliet

150 W. Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL 60432

Amount Funded: $3,500,000

The City of Joliet is in the process of developing a new Lake Michigan water source to replace the City's existing groundwater source, which will no longer be able to meet demands by 2030. Declining water levels make the aquifer unsustainable as a long-term water source for Joliet and other nearby communities. For its new Lake Michigan water source, the City will purchase finished water from the City of Chicago and pump it more than 30 miles. This option was selected after a thorough evaluation of alternatives, in which other sources were ruled out due to the inability to obtain sufficient and consistent quantities of water and/or potential challenges in meeting future treatment requirements. The project aims also to address a broader regional water shortage. The project funds will be used to replace aged, leaking watermains in the City of Joliet's distribution system in order to reduce non-revenue water, a requirement to become a Lake Michigan water user.

Cornerstone Services

777 Joyce Road, Joliet, IL 60436

Amount Funded: $1,050,000

Cornerstone Services provides progressive, comprehensive services for people with disabilities, promoting choice, dignity, and the opportunity to live and work in the community. The agency is a recognized leader in providing the support necessary for individuals with disabilities to live and work in the community and are guided by the belief that people with disabilities are entitled to live in their own communities and make choices for themselves, like everybody else.

Cornerstone is seeking funding for the construction of a Wellness Center. The Wellness Center includes additional professional offices, bathrooms, a fitness club, warming kitchen, and a large meeting room. The offices would provide space for nursing, behavioral care, clinical staff, and other professionals dedicated to the holistic well-being of consumers, many of whom are diagnosed with a mental illness or co-occurring mental illness/substance use disorder. The fitness club would be free of charge and provide a safe and accommodating space for those with physical and/or mental disabilities.

Housing Authority of Joliet

6 S. Broadway, Joliet, IL 60436

Amount Funded: $3,000,000

The City of Joliet, Will County and the Chicagoland Metropolitan Region have a substantial deficit of affordable housing units. Affordable housing for low to middle income, working families is currently a priority across the State of Illinois and the nation as a whole to support the continuation of economic growth and diversity in home ownership. HAJ is proposing to purchase a shuttered golf course and utilize the 147 acres to build affordable and market rate housing, homes for a homeownership program and community amenities.

The funding would be used towards Phase 1 of this five-year project leading to affordable housing for low to middle income working families to support the economic growth and diversity in local communities.

Joliet Area Historical Museum

204 N. Ottawa Street, Joliet, IL 60436

Amount Funded: $3,000,000

The Old Joliet Prison is primarily managed by the Joliet Area Historical Museum, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit entity, in partnership with the City of Joliet. The funding will be used to course correct the trajectory of the conditions of these buildings and ensure the safety of staff and guests. The Prison Rehabilitation plans has labor and construction partners who are willing to stretch every dollar for maximum use. The project is "shovel ready" and in accordance with the economic recovery from the global pandemic, will help to create and sustain much-needed construction jobs, while restoring an historically and culturally significant site in an economically challenged area of the city.

Public Action to Deliver Shelter Inc. DBA Hesed House

659 S. River Street, Aurora, IL 60506

Amount Funded: $1,620,000

Hesed House is the second-largest homeless shelter in the State of Illinois, and the largest shelter outside of the city of Chicago. This project would convert a 16,000 square foot warehouse space to a 24/7/365 social-distanced shelter connected to their Comprehensive Resource Center (CRC), where case management occurs, helping people with counseling through traumatic experiences, financial guidance, job guidance, and more. Most critically, this project would allow Hesed House to no longer require adults in their overnight emergency shelter program to leave the property during daytime hours. This will create greater access to and engagement in the critical health and human services in the CRC needed by up to 323 guests to end their homelessness.

Quad County Urban League

1685 N. Farnsworth Avenue, Aurora, IL 60505

Amount Funded: $425,000

Quad County Urban League (QCUL) was founded in 1975 by a diverse group of local leaders responding to the absence of a community-based organization to address the needs for academic achievement, job placement and training, equal access to employment, housing and cultural enrichment for low-income and displaced citizens.

The QCUL Aurora Youth Careers Program for Construction and TDL (Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics) will serve academically at-risk, homeless and low-income, or unemployed youth, ages 16-24, who are out-of-school or attend Aurora Public Schools and who reside in Congressional District 11. Participants will enroll in the program for education and skills training to enter a registered apprenticeship and/or gain entry-level employment in construction or TDL industries. The Aurora Youth Careers Program will improve the quality of life for low income residents who are lacking constructive job skills. These career opportunities are life changing for residents who are members of historically underrepresented populations.

Stepping Stones, Inc.

1114 N. Larkin, Joliet, IL 60435

Amount Funded: $2,000,000

Stepping Stones, Inc. is a not-for-profit providing clinical services and recovery support for those seeking treatment for substance use disorders. Stepping Stones proposes to construct an 8-unit apartment building on their property at 1621 Theodore Street and 1620 Plainfield Road. Seven units will house a mother and 1 or 2 of her children. Each unit would be 750 sq. ft and include 2 bedrooms and 1 bath. One unit would house a House Manager and an Assistant House Manager. Recovery based housing for women and their children is not available in Joliet and the surrounding area. Lack of access to safe housing and other auxiliary services is a significant barrier to recovery, especially for women with families.

Tri-Council Development Fund

1905 Sequoia Drive, Aurora, IL 60506

Amount Funded: $975,000

The Tri-Council Development Fund will develop and facilitate an Industrial Painting Pre-apprenticeship (IPP) program in industrial painting in direct cooperation with unionized industrial painting apprenticeship programs throughout Illinois. The IPP will develop individuals, particularly women and minorities, to enter and continue in the industrial painting trade. Aurora, Illinois-based North Central Illinois Finishing Trades Institute (NCIFTI) will function as the main training partner. The IPP will also be held through apprenticeship programs in Chicago (affiliated with Painters District Council No. 14) and Southern Illinois (Painters District Council No. 58), having an expansive and regional impact. Each program is registered with the U.S. Department of Labor. Funds will support the costs of training and student support services that mitigate barriers to persistence in apprenticeship.

Will-Grundy Medical Clinic

213 E. Cass Street, Joliet, IL 60432

Amount Funded: $300,000

Project description

The Will-Grundy Medical Clinic is a not-for-profit organization that provides free medical and dental care to adults who have no health insurance or medical care entitlements. Care is provided by physicians, dentists and other professionals who volunteer their time and expertise to the Clinic. Their Housing, Healthcare and Hope Program (HHH) focuses on facilitating comprehensive healthcare access for individuals who are experiencing housing insecurity/homelessness.

They are requesting funds to renovate a 120-year-old facility for a program that provides access to comprehensive, quality health care services including behavioral health services coupled with targeted and intensive housing and case management services. The program will provide an addition 1,000 mental health visits per year to Will County, addressing health-related needs of people who are homeless or at-risk Stable housing is fundamental to both maintaining good health and minimizing the costs of unnecessary emergency room utilization and hospital admissions.