March 10, 2022

Rep. Casten Secures $7,926,644 In Local Project Funds for Illinois 6th

Washington DC (March 9th, 2022) – Today, Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) will vote to fund $7,926,644 in Community Project Funding that he previously secured for Illinois 6th Congressional District. This funding, included in the appropriations government funding package, responds directly to some of the most pressing needs of families and businesses in Chicagoland.

"After an extremely competitive project submission process and many months spent advocating tirelessly for our community, I am proud to deliver $7.9 million in Community Project Funding for Illinois' 6th district," said Congressman Casten. "From addressing learning loss and combating homelessness to helping our small businesses and making it easier for folks to get to work, these investments will supercharge economic development and support the most vulnerable, making a real difference in the lives of so many in Chicagoland. I am proud to have fought for funding that will make our community healthier, safer, stronger, and even more resilient. This is democracy in action."

"Ninety-one percent of the kids we serve are at the poverty level or below, and suffered a disproportionate share of learning loss and trauma during the pandemic compared to resourced families. We are so grateful to Congressman Casten for recognizing this impact, and for securing funding to provide academic and social emotional support services vital to helping those who need it the most," said Drew Glassford - CEO - Boys & Girls Clubs of Dundee Township.

"Through this grant, Burr Ridge will be able to provide 500% more stormwater capacity to nearby residents as well as a local elementary school as compared to the failing pipe currently in place. The Village is thankful for Congressman Casten's support in securing this grant for our community,"said Evan Walter, Administrator of Burr Ridge

"The Pandemic revealed the critical need for youth-focused housing, mental health care and job training. This project will benefit our community for years to come because it's an investment in youth and families," said Dawn Melchiorre, interim CEO of 360 Youth Services.

"I echo Congressman Sean Casten's sentiments on the value and impact this Community Project Funding will have on the families living in Bridge Communities Transitional Housing Program. Due to this investment, families facing homelessness will receive high-quality housing and transformative services where they can start their life anew," said Karen Wells, CEO or Bridge Communities.

BACOG Executive Director Kimberly Saunders praised Congressman Casten for recognizing and addressing critical needs in the IL 6th, noting "The pedestrian rail crossing project will help eliminate a dangerous obstacle faced each day by high school students from across the greater Barrington area and the road work in Deer Park will help ensure safe driving conditions on a main thoroughfare for the region."

Rep. Casten championed funding for projects that will directly benefit the 6th district. These include:

  • $614,000 for Deer Park Boulevard - Road Program

o The funding would be used for Deer Park Boulevard - Road Program for road reconstruction of 2,750 roadway. Deer Park Boulevard is a thoroughfare through in their commercial district. The current conditions show signs of aging and problematic sound structural condition.

  • $500,000 for Barrington - Pedestrian Grade Separation at Main Street and the Canadian National Railroad

o The funding would be used for Pedestrian Grade Separation at Main Street and the Canadian National Railroad, which would allow for uninterrupted pedestrian traffic at this rail crossing in a safe and accessible manner.

  • $197,644 for Bridges Communities, Inc. - Capital Rehabilitation of Glendale Heights Program Campus

o The Bridge Communities plans to renovate its Glendale Heights campus, comprising one eight-flat building and one six-flat building. For 33 years, Bridge Communities has been serving extremely low to low income homeless families, mostly single mothers with two or more children. Bridge provides safe, clean and affordable housing and needs to complete this moderate rehab project in order to continue doing so for the families.

  • $3,000,000 for 360 Youth Services - Youth Affordable Housing Resource Center

o The funding would be used as a Youth Affordable Housing Resource Center to provide youth-specific housing and homelessness prevention services in DuPage, Kane, Will and 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.

  • $1,080,000 for Downers Grove Sanitary District for Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation

o The funding would be used for Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation, approximately 4,500 lf of 42-inch reinforced concrete pipe would be rehabilitated using cured-in-place pipe (CIPP), which will prevent root intrusion, eliminating obstructions and lost capacity due to infiltration and inflow.

  • $785,000 for Village of Burr Ridge for Stormwater Management Improvements

o The funding would be used for a regional watercourse in Burr Ridge that is conveyed beneath Elm Street by a large, corrugated metal pipe that has significant corrosion and has reached the end of its useful life. A collapse of this pipe would impact Elm School (District 181) for several months, impede regional traffic in Hinsdale, Willowbrook, and Burr Ridge, and likely result in private property damage to adjacent homes.

  • $750,000 for Morton Arboretum for an Urban Forestry Project

o The funding would be used for The Morton Arboretum's participation in The Chicago Region Trees Initiative (CRTI) which assists municipalities, counties, and other communities in the 7-county Chicago metropolitan region to: plant and grow trees to mitigate and develop resilience to climate change; plant and care for trees to assist community health; and address environmental inequities in underserved and diverse communities. This project increases the urban canopy, diversifies the urban forestry to reduce catastrophic loss, improves capacity of communities to plant and care for trees, and increases tree production.

  • $500,000 Community College District 502 Nursing, Dental Hygiene, and Health Sciences Program

o The funding would be used to purchase technology, such as radiological equipment and simulation mannequins, to better prepare students for careers in health care.

  • $250,000 for DuPage Regional Office of Education, Wheaton, IL for high school work-based learning

o The funding would be used to hire staff and design programs to prepare high school students for jobs and apprenticeships in manufacturing and other trades.

  • $250,000 for Boys & Girls Clubs of Dundee Township, Carpentersville, IL for an academic and SEL support program - would be used to run programs aimed at low-income K-12 students to address learning loss and social-emotional learning needs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The twelve-bill government funding package will help middle class families with the cost of living, create American jobs, supports the vulnerable, and work to help small businesses and restaurants that are key to our economic future. Taken together, the funding for Illinois 6th and the funding increases for critical government programs will reverse decades of disinvestment in our communities and strengthen our nation.

After the House passes the omnibus today, the legislation will go to the Senate and then to President Biden's desk for his signature later this week. Funding for projects will be made available by the agencies in short order.

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