Grants

The sector has become a pillar of business opportunity that leaders want to develop in the region.

The Illinois Democrat toured homes in the area to see the damage from chronic flooding during heavy rains, which often contains raw sewage.

The city gets more trees, and companies are able to offset their carbon use.

“I’m sure Gov. Pritzker didn’t think the internet providers would be causing the digital divide, but they are,” said one member of the community who's been pushing for high speed internet for more than a decade.

The grant money supports organizations taking innovative approaches to heal trauma among individuals and communities.

A quarter of all state tax revenue from recreational marijuana is supposed to help address long-standing issues in underserved communities.

Tax dollars from cannabis sales in Illinois are now starting to flow to East St. Louis in the form of a grant bolstering programs to help students.

Illinois generated around $175 million in tax revenue from cannabis in 2020, and 25% of that money goes back to communities in the form of grants.

Community participation is a major element of the nearly $1 million grant.

Centreville, Alorton and Cahokia have applied for a $22 million federal grant that local leaders believe would fix failed sewage systems in those communities. “I would like to see it happen, but, believe me, I won’t hold my breath,” one resident said.