ROCKFORD -- Nearly $1 million in new state funding is headed to local human services providers for construction and accessibility projects that State Senator Steve Stadelman today deemed "much needed and long overdue."

Awards totalling $947,471 to 6 local agencies are among 70 statewide under the first-ever competitive Human Services Capital Investment Grant program, established to address infrastructure and accessibility needs in early childhood education, substance abuse and mental health treatment, homelessness prevention and developmental disability support.  Funding is through the six-year Rebuild Illinois capital spending legislation Stadelman supported in 2019. More than 450 organizations applied statewide for grants of $50,000 to $250,000.

"For far too long, our most vulnerable citizens have not been adequately supported. The dedicated non-profits who serve them are accustomed to vying for operational funds from government," Stadelman said. "But they have not previously had any opportunity to receive capital dollars to repair buildings and make them safe and accessible."

The local organizations that won grants are:

In Rockford, the Boys & Girls Club will use its $246,458 to make life-safety and accessibility improvements at its Fairgrounds Unit that relocated to the former St. Paul Lutheran School in Kilburn Avenue in 2019. Upgrades there will include ceiling and emergency lighting replacement and remodeling to create a Group Room.

"This grant will allow us to make necessary improvements to our Fairgrounds location which will, in turn, provide an accessible, safe space and additional resources for the youth and neighborhood we serve," said Chip Stoner, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Rockford.