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JKC to Provide 'Invest in Cook' and CDBG Grants Assistance

connecting to cook county 16x9Calumet City/Mokena, IL - John Kasperek Co., Inc. (JKC) is available to assist clients with the open application period for the Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH) Invest in Cook grant program. Invest in Cook grants are designed to assist local governments and agency partners with furthering their transportation projects by covering a portion of the cost of planning and feasibility studies, engineering, right-of-way acquisition and construction associated with transportation infrastructure improvements. This includes bridge improvements, freight projects, bicycle and pedestrian facility projects, traffic flow improvement projects, and improving transit accessibility.

Aside from local governments, eligible applicants include regional transportation authorities, transit agencies, natural resource or public land agencies as well as any other local or regional governmental entity with responsibility for transportation or recreational trails within Cook County. Private for-profit or nonprofit organizations can submit project proposals as a lead applicant, but they are required to partner with a public sponsor that meets the above criteria. Lead applicants are limited to one single project application.

Another grant JKC is assisting the Chicago Southland community with is the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG). This grant program supports critical community development needs in income-eligible areas of suburban Cook. Some allowable projects include:

  • Infrastructure - Improvements including but not limited to construction or installation of streets, curbs, and water/sewer lines.
  • Public Facilities - Improvements including but not limited to recreational facilities, parks, playgrounds, and facilities for persons with special needs. Examples of eligible costs include energy efficiency improvements, and disabled accessibility improvements.
  • Demolition - Activities limited to demolition of vacant buildings including necessary removal of demolition debris.

Applicants are limited to one single project application. Funding request cap for Capital Improvement projects is $400,000. Non-profit agencies applying for capital improvement projects are capped at $200,000. 

The deadline for both grants is Wednesday, March 16th, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. Contact Elizabeth Scott, JKC Grant Research Specialist, for more information or with any questions at (708) 862-2262 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..