Community Development Block Grant

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Program Purpose

The City of Waukegan CDBG Department receives two grants from the US Department of HUD (Housing and Urban Development), CDBG and HOME.  

The US Department of HUD provides the City of Waukegan an annual grant called the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.  

The US Department of HUD provides the City of Waukegan through the Lake County Consortium an annual grant called the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) to fund a wide range of activities including building, buying, and/or rehabilitating affordable housing for rent or homeownership or providing direct rental assistance to low-income people.    

Housing Rehabilitation Program

The City of Waukegan Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) office has funding available to assist income eligible Waukegan residents with rehabilitation to their homes. The program includes both emergency repairs and substantial rehabilitation. Emergency assistance is provided for residences having problems with their homes that relate to health and safety issues. Emergencies are addressed immediately, while substantial rehabilitation is addressed as an applicant number comes up on the Housing Rehabilitation Waiting List. Individuals are qualified through a process established by HUD and the local CDBG guidelines. First, individuals in need of assistance must submit a pre-application. If the homeowner income qualifies according to what’s reported, the homeowner is then required to complete a full application at the time of rehab.  The CDBG staff will review the application to determine program eligibility.  Please find attached the Pre-Screening Intake Form.

CARES Act Small Business Grant Program

The City of Waukegan Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) office has funding available to assist small businesses located in Waukegan that experienced hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The application is available by clicking here. 


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Public Facilities and Public Infrastructure Programs

Under the CDBG Program, grantees may use funds to undertake a variety of public facilities and public improvement projects. In general, public facilities and public improvements are interpreted to include all facilities and improvements that are publicly owned, or that are owned by a nonprofit and open to the general public.  

The acquisition, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or installation of public facilities and improvements are eligible activities under CDBG and can be carried out by a grantee, subrecipient, or other nonprofit. Public facilities may only be owned by these types of entities.

Eligible types of facilities and improvements include: 

  • Infrastructure improvements (construction or installation) including, but not limited to streets, curbs, and water and sewer lines; 
  • Neighborhood facilities including, but not limited to public schools, libraries, recreational facilities, parks, playgrounds; 
  • Facilities for persons with special needs such as facilities for the homeless or domestic violence shelters, or group homes for the disabled.

Public Services Program

The CDBG regulations allow the use of grant funds for a wide range of public service activities, including, but not limited to: employment services; crime prevention and public safety; child care; health services; substance abuse services; fair housing counseling; education programs; energy conservation; services for senior citizens; and services for homeless persons. CDBG funds may be used to pay for labor, supplies, and material as well as to operate and/or maintain the portion of a facility in which the public service is located. 

The total amount of CDBG funds obligated for public services activities must not exceed 15% percent of the annual grant allocation plus 15% percent of program income received during the prior program year. 

Façade Improvement Program

The Façade Improvement Program is an effort to restore and improve our existing business corridors while focusing on the low to moderate income areas throughout the community.  The overall goal is to revitalize the business areas and spark a sense of pride and cohesiveness while increasing the property values and beautifying the community.

This program provides funding for new or existing businesses to rehabilitate deteriorating commercial building exteriors in order to develop a cohesive and unified appearance to that location.  This program will initially pay the costs of architectural drawings, engineering details, and construction for businesses that are participants of the façade program.  

Contact Information

We are here to assist you. If you have any questions regarding the different programs, please feel free to contact our office at (847) 599-2530 or cdbg@waukeganil.gov.