Cook County to receive more than $2 million for housing, roads, or other community needs

Cook County will receive more than $2 million from the federal government over the next two years that can be used for needs that range from housing to improving local roads.

Local government in Cook County will receive approximately $2,040,000 of America Rescue Plan Act funds from the local assistance and tribal consistency fund—a general revenue enhancement program that provides additional assistance to eligible revenue-sharing counties and tribal governments. The payment will arrive in two equal payments of just over $1 million dollars.

According to the U.S Treasury Department, the American Rescue Plan appropriated $2 billion to Treasury across fiscal years 2022 and 2023 to provide payments to eligible revenue-sharing counties and tribal governments for use on any governmental purpose.

Cook County will receive the second largest of these payouts across the state. Only nearby St. Louis County, at approximately $1.4 million per year for the next two years, will receive more in Minnesota.

Locally, the money can be used for “programs, services and capital expenditures that are traditionally undertaken by a government are considered to fulfill a governmental purpose,” according to the Department of Treasury’s acceptance form.

The Treasury Department says examples of how the money can be used include:

• Provision of health services, educational services, court services, police, fire, emergency medical, and other public safety services, utilities or sanitation services, and direct assistance to households (including cash assistance);
• Capital expenditures on core facilities and equipment, including in housing and community development (e.g., schools, hospitals, childcare facilities, and parks and recreation facilities), public safety facilities and equipment (e.g., police vehicles), and government administration buildings;
• Infrastructure investments, including roads, bridges, water and sewer systems, utility systems, airports, public transit, and technology infrastructure;
• Long-term economic development activities, including affordable housing development, workforce development and other programs to strengthen local communities undergoing economic transitions.
• General government operations, such as general government administration, personnel costs, administrative facilities, record keeping, tax assessments, or election administration.

News of the funding was first shared publicly by Commissioner and Board Chair Ann Sullivan during a meeting of the Cook County Board of Commissioners Oct. 25.

Joe Friedrichs October 26, 2022