Solarize Chicagoland Program Returns for Second Year

After exceeding last year’s goals with more than 120 properties committed to installing solar, the Solarize Chicagoland program kicks off this week for residents in Cook County. 

For the second year in a row, Cook County is co-sponsoring Solarize Chicagoland, a program aimed at making solar more affordable and easier to attain for residents in Cook, Will, DuPage and Kane counties.

Cook County Announces $41 million COVID-19 Contact Tracing Grant Award

CHICAGO  Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) today announced that CCDPH will be receiving almost $41 million in grant funding from the Illinois Department of Public Health to rapidly scale-up its COVID-19 contact tracing program in suburban Cook County over the next three to six months. The funding will allow CCDPH to focus on communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle Announces Applications Open for $10M Recovery Fund for Suburban Cook County’s Small Businesses & Independent Contractors

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced today that applications are now open for the Community Recovery Loan Fund.  Launched as part of the Bureau of Economic Development’s Community Recovery Initiative, the $10 million Community Recovery Fund offers one-time, zero-interest loans of up to $20,000 for small businesses and up to $10,000 for independent contractors.  

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle Hires Denise Barreto as Inaugural Director of Equity and Inclusion

Cook County welcomed Denise Barreto as its inaugural Director of Equity and Inclusion on May 26, 2020, charged with coordinating and integrating racial equity principles into all County operations, projects and services. She will lead efforts already underway: galvanizing internal employee engagement and external community engagement to inform practices and principles that advance racial equity. Ms.

President Preckwinkle Issues Executive Order 2020-11 in Accordance with "Restore Illinois" Plan

In accordance with Governor Pritzker's "Restore Illinois" Plan, today President Preckwinkle issued Executive Order 2020-11 to provide guidance to employees and residents on the re-opening of Cook County facilities and returning to work as Cook County enters Phase 3 of "Restore Illinois."

Click here for the full Executive Order.

Cook County Announces $8 million Animal Shelter Program Grant Recipient

Program designed to boost shelter capacity across County

CHICAGO – Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today announced grant awards totaling $8 million to expand animal shelter capacity throughout the County. The grants were awarded through Cook County’s Department of Animal and Rabies Control’s Housing Cook County’s Animals program. South Suburban Humane Society (SSHS) received a $6 million grant and the City of Evanston received a $2 million grant for Evanston Animal Shelter (EAS).

Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office Reaches Grim Milestone

Cases in first five months of 2020 exceed 2019 totals

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced today that the County’s Medical Examiner’s Office caseload since January 1, 2020 has surpassed all of the cases handled by the ME in 2019. Last year, the Office determined cause and manner of death in 6,274 cases. In 2020, the Office has handled more than 6,600 cases to date.

President Preckwinkle Issues Veto of Resolution to Share Addresses of COVID-Positive Individuals with First Responders

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle issued a veto today striking down the Cook County Board resolution that would provide addresses of COVID-19 positive patients to first responders in Cook County Department of Public Health’s jurisdiction of suburban Cook County, which includes 127 municipalities and 2.5 million residents. 

Five Incentives Approved by Cook County Board Designed to Grow Vital Communities

Today, Cook County Commissioners approved five proposals from President Toni Preckwinkle’s Bureau of Economic Development (BED) that will provide tax incentives to businesses in Cook County.

The incentives, designed to promote economic growth, were approved in the following communities:  Arlington Heights, Chicago Heights, Schaumburg, South Chicago Heights, Wheeling.

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