PHHS board awards grants to nine local non-profits
Nine local nonprofit organizations were awarded grants from the Cook County Public Health Fund this month, totaling $150,000 for 2026.
The Cook County Public Health and Human Services Board approved the grants in late 2025. The county received 11 applications requesting a combined $282,651.
The following organizations received funding:
- Birch Grove Community School
- Care Partners of Cook County
- Cook County Council on Aging
- Cook County Higher Education
- Cook County Schools Community Education
- Cook County YMCA
- Great Expectations School
- Northwoods Food Project
- Violence Prevention Center
“What we really want is for there to be a very transparent, clear process, and for entities who are eligible to know that this opportunity exists,” Public Health and Human Services Director Grace Grinager told WTIP. “It’s always something we have to work at. We want to make sure we’re getting the word out every year.”
Grinager said a subcommittee of the Public Health and Human Services Advisory Council begins meeting in March to hear reports from the previous year’s grant recipients. The group then reviews grant materials and issues requests for proposals in late May or early June.
The subcommittee scores applications and offers applicants opportunities to meet and explain their projects before making funding recommendations to the Public Health and Human Services Board. The board votes to approve, reject or modify the proposals.
Grant-funded projects are required to align with priorities outlined in the county’s Community Health Improvement Plan. Current priorities include affordable access to healthy food, housing and quality child care; mental health resources and well-being; physical health services; and transportation.
Federal Funding Freezes
Grinager said county services remain uninterrupted following announcements earlier this month that the Trump administration would freeze funding for several social service programs.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a freeze on $129 million in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding, which serves about 440,000 Minnesotans. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also paused funding for the Child Care and Development Fund, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the Social Services Block Grant.
The administration has walked back some of these freezes, while others have been blocked by federal judges.
“This is something that we’re paying attention to, and this is something that we continue to get information about through our Association of Minnesota Counties, and so we are learning about this in real time with our colleagues across the state,” Grinager told WTIP. “We’re staying on top of the news to make sure that if there is a change to benefits and funding that we receive, there’s communication that goes out to the public.”
Grinager said the county is monitoring developments closely and will communicate with residents if changes affect benefits or funding, adding that if residents have concerns about their benefits, they can always reach out to the county directly with questions.
WTIP spoke with Grinager about the Public Health Fund, the pop-up food pantry, and the latest staffing changes at Public Health and Human Services. The audio of the conversation is available below.
Josh Hinke January 27, 2026
