The City of Waukegan's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Department is accepting applications for its 2025 Economic Development Activities Program. This funding supports specific projects that benefit Waukegan residents and address priority goals within the city’s Consolidated and Comprehensive Plans. The application deadline is December 16, 2024, at 4:00 PM.

Eligible applicants include local government departments and nonprofit organizations that have been operational for at least one year. Funds are available for economic development projects such as microenterprise assistance, commercial rehabilitation, and public services that benefit low- to moderate-income residents or address urban blight. The program requires a 25% monetary match for project costs, and applicants are encouraged to leverage additional funds where possible.

Projects must align with one of the three CDBG National Objectives: benefiting low- and moderate-income individuals, eliminating slums and blight, or addressing urgent needs. Applicants should provide detailed information about the proposed project, its goals, expected outcomes, and budget.

Applications must be submitted both physically and electronically. Hard copies should be delivered to the CDBG Department at Waukegan City Hall, with one original and eight additional copies prepared in single-sided, three-hole punched format. An electronic version of the application, along with attachments like a Certificate of Good Standing, IRS documentation, project maps, and a project schedule, must be emailed to cdbg@waukeganil.gov.

Applicants are advised to complete registration in the federal System for Award Management (SAM) for a Unique Entity ID. For technical assistance, applicants may contact the CDBG office during regular business hours at (847) 599-2530.

The review process includes an evaluation by the CDBG staff and Stakeholder Participation Panel, with final funding decisions expected by spring 2025.