Application Deadlines For The
Community Development Assistance Program

The Department of Commerce and Community Affairs has tentatively set the 1995 Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP) allocation and application deadlines. The Community Development Assistance Program is a federally-funded grant program that assists Illinois communities by providing grants to local governments to assist in financing economic development projects, public facilities and housing rehabilitation. The program is designed to help low-and moderate-income people by creating job opportunities and improving the quality of their living.

Cities and villages may apply for funding. Municipalities must have populations of 50,000 or less and must not be located in an urban county that receives federal "entitlement" funds. Those counties are: Cook, DuPage, Lake, Madison, McHenry, St. Clair and Will. Listed below is a description of the types of grants available and their application due dates.

• Economic Development — Grant funds of up to $500,000 may be available for loan by a local government to businesses locating or expanding in the community. Funds may be used for machinery and equipment, working capital, building construction and renovation, and improvements to public infrastructure that directly support this development. A total of $8,000,000 has been tentatively allocated to this program. Applications may be submitted at any time.

• Emergency Public Facilities — When emergencies strike, communities may apply for grant funds up to $100,000 to undertake projects that improve public infrastructure and eliminate conditions detrimental to health, safety and public welfare. A total of $1,000,000 has been tentatively allocated to this program. Applications may be submitted at any time.

• Housing — To provide safe and sanitary living conditions for low-and moderate-income residents of their communities, local governments may request grant funds up to $400,000. These grants are used to upgrade and expand housing stock in the communities. A total of $7,000,000 has been tentatively allocated to this program. Applications are judged competitively and are due October 13, 1995.

• Planning Assistance — Local governments may request grant funds up to $25,000 for a variety of planning activities such as studies, analyses, data gathering, identification of implementation actions and preparation of specific plans. A total of $500,000 has been tentatively allocated to this program. Applications are judged competitively and are due May 17, 1995.

• Public Facilities Construction and Design Engineering — Local governments needing to improve public infrastructure and eliminate conditions detrimental to public health, safety and public welfare may request grants up to $50,000 for Design Engineering and $400,000 for Public Facilities to undertake projects designed to alleviate these conditions. A total of $21,860,570 has been tentatively allocated to this program. Applications are judged competitively and are due July 25, 1995.

• Removal of Architectural Barriers — Grant funds ranging from $25,000 to $150,000 are available to assist local governments in the removal of architectural barriers that restrict accessibility to publicly-owned buildings for people with disabilities. A total of $1,000,000 has been tentatively allocated to this program. Applications are judged competitively and are due June 14, 1995.

The Department is streamlining its mailing procedures. As a result, local governments will no longer automatically receive Community Development Assistance Program Application Guidebooks. If you are interested in receiving one or all of the CDAP Application Guidebooks please contact:

Illinois Department of Commerce and
Community Affairs
Attention: Kay Wallwork
620 East Adams
Springfield, Illinois 62701
Telephone: 217/785-7546

For additional information on the Community Development Assistance Program, please contact Jean Thomas at 217/785-6142.

Page 12 / Illinois Municipal Review / March 1995