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

Service Information

NOTE: The application portal for the 2025 Community Development Block Grant and Emergency Solutions Grants programs closed on March 21, 2025.

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.

Cook County then distributes these funds to municipalities and nonprofit organizations to support infrastructure improvements, as well as social services and homeless prevention in income-eligible suburban Cook County communities. See more eligibility requirements below.

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 were open from January 15, 2025, until March 21, 2025.

Eligibility

CDBG-Capital Improvement: Municipalities and nonprofit organizations serving suburban communities

CDBG-Public Service: Nonprofit organizations serving suburban communities

ESG: Nonprofit organizations serving suburban communities

Review the application guides/manuals below for more information.

Application Process

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

The webinar was held in conjunction with the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways, which leads another County program called Invest in Cook.

View the webinar here:

2025 Invest in Cook/CDBG and ESG joint application webinar

Other Resources 

Questions?

For more information, contact:

sylvia.parham@cookcountyil.gov (CDBG-Capital Improvement)

ericka.branch@cookcountyil.gov (CDBG-Public Service, ESG)

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