* Press release…

Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that almost $111.4 million has been awarded to transit providers downstate as part of the historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program. The governor also announced an additional $108.3 million for public ports in Illinois. The two announcements, combined with earlier commitments of $40 million to build a port in Cairo, $244 million in additional funding to downstate transit and $96 million to extend MetroLink Service to MidAmerica Airport, contribute to a combined $601 million commitment to ports and downstate transit, reinforcing the governor’s priority to create economic opportunity by moving freight and people more safely and efficiently while improving all modes of Illinois transportation.

“When the General Assembly and I crafted the most robust infrastructure plan in Illinois history, our vision wasn’t limited to simply updating highways, rails, and bridges. We saw an opportunity to connect jobs and economic development to communities across the state through every mode of transportation,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Today we’re launching funding to support Illinois ports as well as over three dozen transit systems outside Chicago. All in all, we’re announcing $110 million for nine port districts as well as $112 million for 37 transit districts, totaling nearly a quarter of a billion dollars going out to projects around the state.”

Today’s announcement represents the second round of competitive grants awarded as part of $355 million identified in Rebuild Illinois to invest in transit outside the Chicago area. Projects include the purchase of new vehicles as well as the construction of bus shelters, stations, and maintenance facilities to expand and improve service, provide more transportation options in downstate communities, and promote an enhanced quality of life.

A total of 37 transit systems are receiving $111.4 million to advance 51 projects, including:

• St. Clair County Mass Transit District’s Emerson Park Operational Control Center in East St. Louis, $9.9 million for a new building to house county sheriff’s deputies, transit control center, 911 dispatching and pilot program to assist riders with mental health issues, homelessness and more.
• Rockford Mass Transit District, $16 million for renovation and expansion of transit facility at 520 Mulberry St.
• CRIS Rural Mass Transit District in Danville, $3 million for new administrative and operations facility.
• Kendall Area Transit in Kendall County, $4 million for new facility to accommodate administration, dispatch, mechanics and secure parking for the vehicle fleet.

[…] For the state’s 19 public ports, $150 million in capital funding is available for improvement projects, the first time a state capital program is investing in waterways, with $40 million already committed to a new inland port in Cairo. The remaining $108.3 million being announced today by Gov. Pritzker is being awarded on a competitive basis. Proposals were evaluated on their ability to advance IDOT’s Illinois Marine Transportation System Plan, which prioritizes asset management performance-based decisions and projects that benefit disadvantaged or economically distressed areas.

A total of 12 projects are receiving $108.3 million, including:

• America’s Central Port District in Granite City, $21 million total investment with $13 million for sediment reduction project in Madison Harbor, increasing operational efficiency and reducing long-term expenses.
• Illinois International Port District in Chicago, $13 million for Iroquois Landing dock wall rehabilitation at the mouth of the Calumet River and Lake Michigan, part of the Port of Chicago, the largest cargo port on the Great Lakes.
• Mid‐America Intermodal Port Authority in Quincy, $13.2 million to improve capacity and operations at existing dock and build a second dock.

Click here for the full list.

* And another press release…

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Office of Broadband today announced $47 million in funding for 22 projects in every region of the state through the second round of Connect Illinois, the state’s broadband expansion plan. To promote broadband access, the Illinois Office of Broadband is making $350 million in funding available through a third round of grants, which will be accepted and awarded on a rolling basis through 2024, or until funds are depleted. Funding for Connect Illinois is made possible by Governor Pritzker’s bipartisan $45 billion Rebuild Illinois capital plan, the first comprehensive infrastructure program in Illinois in nearly a decade, as well as federal broadband funding available through the American Rescue Plan Act.

Round Two funding includes $23 million in Connect Illinois grant awards matched by $24 million in nonstate funding for a total of over $47 million, with plans to expand broadband access to approximately 13,000 homes, businesses, farms, and community institutions across Illinois – through 22 new projects, with at least one in every region of the state.

“Thanks to these investments, thousands more families and businesses will have access to the economic opportunity, education, and healthcare that come with 21st century connectivity,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Connect Illinois is all about opening doors and closing gaps for our residents, delivering demonstrable change to people’s lives and real opportunity for new business development and new jobs. I’m grateful to our partners in making this round of projects possible – and with another $350 million already available for the next round, this impact is just the beginning.”

The second round of Connect Illinois grant awards includes 14 different internet service providers, rural cooperatives, and local governments– a diverse group of recipients representing every region of the state, with projects supporting fully scalable broadband infrastructure that will serve these areas for decades into the future.

Round Two Grant Awards:

Adams Telsystem Inc. $1,252,041 Adams, Pike
Bspeedy Wireless $152,108 Richland, Edwards, Jasper, Wabash, Lawrence,
Century Enterprises $215,120 Knox
Charter Spectrum - Bella Vista $29,555 Madison
Charter Spectrum - Briars $99,556 St Clair
Charter Spectrum - Equus Lane $109,320 Madison
Charter Spectrum - Huey $107,416 Clinton
Charter Spectrum - New Minden $250,198 Washington
Charter Spectrum - Nichols Woods $50,750 Winnebago, Clay, Crawford, Wayne
Clearwave $500,000 Saline, Williamson, Johnson
Comcast - Leisure Time Est $630,903 Vermilion
Comcast - Sterling $595,300 Whiteside
East Moline CUSD $1,706,494 Rock Island, Henry
Jo-Carroll Energy $4,688,840 Jo Daviess, Carroll, Whiteside
Mediacom - Dewey $117,054 Champaign
Mediacom - Valley View Est $52,434 Rock Island
Mediacom - Wolf Creek $45,905 LaSalle
Metro Communications $292,118 Livingston
ProTek Communications $2,000,000 Williamson
Strada Communications $5,000,000 Rock Island, Whiteside
Village of Palatine $101,387 Cook
WKT Telecom Cooperative $5,000,000 Union, Pulaski

*** UPDATE *** Press release…

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) Board announced the conditional award of more than $55.7 million in state and federal resources that will finance the creation or preservation of permanent supportive housing across the state. Awarded under Round VIII of IHDA’s Permanent Supportive Housing Development Program, the awards will support the construction and rehabilitation of 10 developments containing 259 units of affordable housing for persons at risk of homelessness, residents with physical challenges or mental health needs, and other vulnerable populations. To further support the success of residents over the long term, the housing will be integrated with flexible supportive services designed to help these households maintain their housing stability, health, and independence.

“My administration understands that affordable housing and accessible housing go hand in hand when it comes to supporting our residents,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This $55 million investment to develop hundreds of new supportive units is the next step in our efforts to tackle housing instability for all Illinoisans, building on the $75 million affordable housing investment we made last summer and the hundreds of millions of dollars we’ve deployed to renters and homeowners in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Every resident deserves the basic foundation on which to build a good life for themselves and their families, and this work continues until we can give it to them.” […]

More details on the developments approved under Round VIII of the Permanent Supportive Housing Development Program are below:

Arlington Heights PSH (Arlington Heights): A three-story, 25-unit development that will serve persons with a disability, youth aging out of DCFS-funded care, and veterans. Developed by Full Circle Communities, the development will create new opportunities for tenants to live in an amenity-rich and transit-accessible community in Chicago’s northwest suburbs.

Lakeview Landing (Chicago): A new construction, six-story, 37-unit building in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood designed for residents with mobility challenges. Sponsored by the Over the Rainbow Association and located on a site donated by the Lakeview Lutheran Church, the development will feature space for on-site supportive services as well as easy access to transportation and healthcare amenities. All 37 units will be supported by rental assistance form the Chicago Housing Authority.

The Covent (Chicago): The rehabilitation of the former Covent Hotel, a former single-room occupancy hotel originally built in 1904 in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. Work includes merging and upgrading the 64 single room occupancy (SRO) units to create 30 studio apartments with private kitchens and bathrooms while enhancing the building’s common areas. The project is developed by the NHP Foundation with services provided by Renaissance Social Services.

ReVive Center Cressey House (Chicago): A rehabilitation project led by the ReVive Center to renovate and preserve 28 units of supportive housing. All 28 units will be upgraded with new appliances and finishes while the building’s mechanical systems and common areas are replaced and modernized.

Wildwood Commons (Elgin): Construction of a two-story, 24-unit building in Elgin built on a three-acre site donated by the Association for Individual Development. Designed to serve individuals with physical or mental health challenges and those at risk of homelessness, on-site services will include wellness and health programs, job skills training, and employment programs to help residents develop skills to enter the workforce.

Hill Arboretum (Evanston): Rehabilitation of an existing 33-unit development in Evanston for adults and seniors with physical disabilities. The Over the Rainbow Association plans to make capital repairs to the building while renovating the units to better serve tenants. Work will ensure the development continues to provide barrier-free housing for vulnerable individuals in an amenity-rich neighborhood.

Kankakee Veterans Housing (Kankakee): A redevelopment led by the Kankakee County Housing Development Corporation to rehabilitate a vacant property into 14 studio apartments for veterans experiencing homelessness. The development is located one block from the River Valley Metro bus stop and will have rental assistance for every unit provided by the County Housing Authority to ensure rents are affordable to extremely low-income veterans.

Madison Apartments III (Peoria): A new construction, four-story development creating 16 studio and one-bedroom units sponsored by Phoenix Community Development Services. When complete, the development will provide housing and supportive services for homeless residents between 18 and 24 years old, many of whom will be aging out of the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

Apoyo Village (Silvis): A new construction development sponsored by the Rock Island County Housing Finance Corporation and the Youth Service Bureau of Rock Island County. Built on a currently vacant site, the three-story building will create 24 one-, two- and three-bedroom units set aside for extremely low-income households and residents with mental health needs.

Park Street Apartments (Springfield): Construction of three new buildings, each containing eight units intended to serve homeless individuals not currently assisted by local programs. The development is sponsored by the Helping Hands of Springfield, an organization established in 1989 to help provide housing and other essential needs for residents experiencing homelessness.