Will County Gazette

At the April 3rd Joliet City Council meeting, council member Jan Quillman called up Kristi McNichol, the city’s housing finance specialist, to talk about the city’s Community Development Block Grants and the funding program. 

There had been a lot of questions and conversations about the money and how it was being spent in the city and the community. McNichol shared the summary and success of their projects in the current fiscal year 2023, which runs from July 2022 to June 2023.

"Kristi has done a great job," said city manager James Caparelli. "We’ve talked about trying to get more community members involved in how to be able to apply for these grants because it is a little bit paperwork intensive. So, she’s done a great job in outreaching some of the organizations who might not normally think about this as a potential funding stream for them, in addition to making sure the partners we currently have are going to comply with all the federal guidelines."

This year, the city has funded 13 different community-based programs. This upcoming year they will see an increase in their available funding for the program, up to just above $89,000. Since they received that information, they have held two meetings throughout March with their community partners, and with new or interested applicants. They will hold numerous more meetings in April, informing interested parties of federal regulations and the paperwork process of the grant funding, as well as working with their current partners to plan programs for the upcoming year that fit funding requirements. The CDBG application closing date is April 21st, so all organizations must submit their requests before then.

The council is funding Agape Missions, a not-for-profit organization focusing on transitioning formerly incarcerated citizens, the hardest-to-house and unemployed population. They have funded Will Grundy Medical facilities, funded a non-congregate shelter in the area to connect the homeless population with housing options, supported the YMCA and their new STEM program, and helped with rental assistance and facility improvements for the Spanish community center in town. They have their Diversity and Community Relations meeting on April 18th, where the Housing Authority of Joliet will present. Prior to that meeting, they will be meeting with the committee on citizens with disabilities about Americans with Disability Act access.