Governor Announces $22 Million To Fund Antipoverty Programs

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan announced today a $22 million federal Community Services Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that will be used to fund antipoverty programs in communities throughout the state.

"The ultimate goal of antipoverty efforts in Illinois is to promote self-sufficiency through access to quality education and good job opportunities," Ryan said. "We are committed to finding innovative solutions to combat poverty and give more of our citizens the ability to achieve self-sufficiency."

The grant will be shared at the local level by 36 Community Action Agencies, or CAAs. The funding comes from the federal government to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA), which then allocates it to the CAAs.

Agency services include providing basic life necessities such as food, shelter and medicine. In addition, long-term development programs such as literacy, nutrition, education and job creation services are also provided.

"This program is a terrific example of state and federal agencies working together to provide low-income residents with the services they need," said DCCA Director Pam McDonough.

Funding in the amount of $225,000 is also being provided to the Community Services Block Grant Loan Program, designed to provide long-term, fixed-rate financing to small businesses. Since the program's inception in 1983, businesses receiving these loans have created more than 4,000 jobs for low-income citizens.

In addition, $200,000 is being provided to the Community Services Block Grant Scholarship Program, which provides academic scholarships to low-income persons with high academic aptitude or potential. More than 4,500 students have benefited from this program since its 1985 inception.

The program also earmarks $173,000 in funding for training and technical assistance through the Illinois Community Action Association. An additional $200,000 in natural disaster recovery assistance and $500,000 in funding for innovative anti-poverty projects is administered through the CAAs.

A list of grantees is attached.