KANKAKEE, Ill. (September 6, 2022) – For over 20 years, the Public Service Program has been administered by the City of Kankakee to local not-for-profit agencies. Last year, the City Council allocated $750,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funding to ECDA to launch an additional program to aid agencies that provide services to Kankakee residents who were impacted or disproportionately impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic called the Kankakee American Rescue Plan Public Service (KARPPS) Program. This program will be opening up applications again today, September 6th.

 

The Kankakee American Rescue Plan Public Service Program funds physical improvement, economic development, housing, and public service activities. As an entitlement city, the Kankakee Economic and Community Development Agency distributes funds to local communities through a competitive grant application process. The application process begins with the completion of the application. Applications are then reviewed by ECDA staff for project and applicant eligibility. The Citizens Advisory Board (CAB) provides a funding recommendation to the City of Kankakee Council for final approval. Funding currently available is approximately $400,000; however, this amount may be decreased or increased depending upon the level of funding the agency receives from future American Rescue Plan allocations decided by City Council over the next two years. If a proposal is submitted for a project requiring services by more than one agency working collaboratively, a lead agency must be identified as the Primary Sub-recipient.

 

The application opens September 6, 2022, and closes on October 14, 2022.  A letter of intent from each applicant has to be received by September 16, 2022 to be eligible for funding. Applications will be available for pick up at 200 E. Court Street, Suite 410. This program is funded through the U.S. Department of Treasury’s American Rescue Plan Act.

 

“Helen Keller once said ‘Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.’ The Kankakee American Rescue Plan Public Service Program seeks to help nonprofits that serve our whole community, especially those who were most impacted by the coronavirus pandemic,” said Jan Gathing, the Public Service Administrator and Assistant Program Manager for ECDA. “This is a wonderful opportunity for our community and we encourage all social service agencies to apply!”

 

 

For more information, please contact the ECDA office at (815) 933-0506 or email yourvoice@citykankakee-il.gov.

 

# # #

 

 

About the Economic and Community Development Agency (ECDA):

The Kankakee Economic and Community Development (ECDA) is a local government agency whose mission is to improve the lives of Kankakee residents and enhance the economic vitality of communities through housing, economic development and community development. The ECDA administers programs that serve the neighborhoods and residents of the City of Kankakee provided by federal, state and local funding. For more information, contact ECDA at 815-933-0506, Monday – Friday between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

About the City of Kankakee, Illinois:

The City of Kankakee is dedicated to protecting, building and nurturing the community while enhancing lives. We are a historic, vibrant and active riverfront community. We continue to transform into an extraordinary place to dream, grow and thrive. Embracing our diversity, we strive to be progressive, inclusive and innovative. For more information on the City of Kankakee, please visit the website at www.citykankakee-il.gov.

 

Download the Press Release - The Economic and Community Development Agency’s (ECDA) Kankakee American Rescue Plan Public Service Program Will Begin Accepting Applications in September