2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) applications

Service Information

Visit Department of Planning and Development: Community Development webpage

Summary

Each year, the Cook County Department of Planning and Development, which is part of the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development, solicits grant applications for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) programs through a competitive process.

Program Year 2025

Applications for the 2025 CDBG programs--Capital Improvement (includes economic development and demolition) and Public Service (includes planning)--as well as for the 2025 ESG program are now available.

Application submissions will be handled via an online process by following these steps.

  1. Review the application guide for the specific program you wish to apply to.
    1. CDBG (Capital Improvement and Public Service) Application Guide
    2. CDBG Demolition Manual
    3. ESG Application Guide
  2. Prepare the application PDF for the program you wish to apply to--as listed below--as well as and any other required or supplemental documents for your submission. Download the PDF, fill it out, save it, then upload it as part of your official submission, as indicated below. Be sure to keep the document as a fillable PDF. We recommend not filling out the application in your browser. Do not submit a scanned copy of your application.
    1. CDBG Capital Improvement application
    2. CDBG Public Service application
    3. ESG application
  3. Complete the online submission form below to submit your application materials--including the application PDF--before the deadline. Make sure you have all materials ready to submit – you will not be able to save as you go.
    1. CDBG Capital Improvement submission form
    2. CDBG Public Service submission form
    3. ESG submission form

All applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 21, 2025.

Important notice: CDBG nonprofits may apply for one CDBG Capital Improvement, Economic Development or Demolition project or one CDBG Public Service/Planning project. There is a limit of one funding application per agency.

Upcoming webinar

The Department of Planning and Development, in conjunction with the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways, will host a webinar for potential applicants for CDBG and ESG, as well for “Invest in Cook," on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Click here to register. 

The primary focus of the webinar will be to provide program-compliance guidelines along with detailed information on applying for the grants. 

Other Resources 

Questions?

For more information, contact Cook County Bureau of Economic Development public relations specialist Kyle Garmes at kyle.garmes@cookcountyil.gov.

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