April 16, 2024
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County Board approves over $2.7 million more in Advance McHenry County grants

By Northwest Herald staff report
A vacant resident room awaits preparations for the next guest at Home of the Sparrow on Monday, June 22, 2020, in McHenry.

A vacant resident room awaits preparations for the next guest at Home of the Sparrow on Monday, June 22, 2020, in McHenry. Home of the Sparrow was recently awarded a $414,000 Advance McHenry County grant to acquire a two- to three-unit property in McHenry to expand its subsidized apartment and supporting housing program. (Matthew Apgar)

Five new Advance McHenry County grants totaling more than $2.7 million will fund programs to create affordable housing, provide food to those in need and assist the elderly.

The McHenry County Board approved grants for Home of the Sparrow, the McHenry County Housing Authority, the Housing Opportunity Development Corp., the Northern Illinois Food Bank and the Harvard Community Center, according to a news release.

Advance McHenry County is a program to invest almost $60 million in COVID-19 relief funds into projects that benefit the community, including infrastructure and manufacturing, work development and job programs.

The Housing Opportunity Corp. will receive $800,000 to assist with the development of 54 housing units in McHenry. The Northern Illinois Food Bank will receive $825,000 to buy nutritious food items that are not commonly donated and to fund a home food delivery service in 11 selected communities.

The McHenry County Housing Authority will receive $467,500 to help finance the purchase of a facility to accommodate additional staff. Home of the Sparrow will get $414,000 to acquire a two- to three-unit property in McHenry to expand its subsidized apartment and supporting housing program, and the Harvard Community Center will receive $234,040 to create the McHenry Senior TechConnect program.

In total, McHenry County has awarded more than $8.5 million of the almost $29.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding it intends to disperse as part of the first phase of its Advance McHenry County program.

Applications still are being accepted, and eligible entities are encouraged to apply. Learn more about the Advance McHenry County initiative and apply for funding at www.mchenrycountyil.gov/advance.