For more than 20 years, the Economic and Community Development Agency’s Public Service Program has been administered by the City of Kankakee to fund local not-for-profit agencies providing services to low-to-moderate income persons in the City of Kankakee.

Application packets will be available beginning December 4 and are due January 12. Applications may be picked up in person at the ECDA office during operating hours. This program is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which the Economic and Community Development Agency (ECDA) administers.

“The Public Service program is a fantastic resource and opportunity for established non-profits to increase their capacity and the number of Kankakee residents they serve. We are so grateful for our community agencies and hope they will consider participating!” said Marlena Temple-Kalafut, CDBG program manager for the ECDA. Temple-Kalafut works with applicants during the application process and monitors each participating agency’s program to ensure needs are being met across the city.

Last year the following programs received funding:

  • Catholic Charities for transitional housing, furnishings, and utilities
  • Kankakee Eastside Junior Football League for equipment, uniforms, and insurance
  • Kankakee County NAACP for their advocacy program
  • Options Center for Independent Living for rental assistance and emergency shelter services.

Interested applicants are required to attend an informational meeting on December 12, at either noon or 5:30 p.m., to be eligible for funding. This meeting will be held at the ECDA office and will discuss the application and review process, eligible programs, and relevant CDBG information. For more information, please contact the ECDA office at 815-933-0506 or email yourvoice@citykankakee-il.gov.

“I encourage all social service agencies providing services, such as rental assistance, health assistance, senior services, child care, or public safety, to apply for funding through this program,” said director Barbi Brewer-Watson. “The informational session will help answer questions and set expectations for potential applicants, so please consider attending the event on December 12.”