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

Service Information

For more information on the Cook County Community Development Block Grant and Emergency Solutions Grants programs, visit the 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.

Webinar

The Department of Planning and Development, in conjunction with the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways, hosted a webinar for potential applicants for CDBG and ESG, as well for the Invest in Cook program, on February 5, 2025. The webinar focused on program-compliance guidelines, along with detailed information on applying for the grants. 

View the webinar here:

2025 Invest in Cook/CDBG and ESG joint application webinar

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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