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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
ADOPTION OF THE COOK COUNTY 2025-2029 CONSOLIDATED PLAN FOR THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
WHEREAS, Uplift Cook is the continuation of the initial five-year strategic plan for the Cook County Department of Planning and Development within the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development; and
WHEREAS, Uplift Cook consists of two Federally required plans based upon similar timeframes and content thereby helping the County maintain cohesiveness and be more efficient in coordinating and targeting a wide spectrum of Federal resources to address local needs; and
WHEREAS, Uplift Cook includes the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan (Con Plan) as required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the continued receipt of Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds to support economic development, affordable housing, and community development in suburban Cook County with particular emphasis upon benefit to low- and moderate-income households and communities; and
WHEREAS, Uplift Cook also includes the 2025-2029 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) as required by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) within the U.S. Department of Commerce for eligible application for Federal funds to support economic development in the city of Chicago and suburban Cook County; and
WHEREAS, Uplift Cook was launched in October 2024, is inclusive of extensive data compilation and analysis as well as critical feedback provided by key stakeholders, and built on the extensive outreach that was initially developed under the Cook County Policy Roadmap, further built upon from outreach and surveys under the ARPA Community Voices strategy; and
WHEREAS, Uplift Cook includes an assessment of local assets, resources, needs, market conditions, and development/service opportunities; and
WHEREAS, helps the Department strategically plan for future needs throughout the County; and
WHEREAS, Uplift Cook capitalizes on existing local and regional planning efforts, establishing countywide and sub-regional goals that will provide a higher quality of life for its residents, workers, and visitors over the next five years; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with the Department’s Citizen Participation Plan that governs its HUD funding, the Consolidated Plan must be adopted by the Cook County Board of Commissioners prior to submission to HUD; and
WHEREAS, the Planning and Development Subcommittee of the Cook County Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) and the full EDAC have provided feedback on Uplift Cook throughout the process and approved the draft Uplift Cook strategic plan to move forward for Cook County Board review and consideration for approval at their May 2025 meeting; and
WHEREAS, the draft Uplift Cook strategic plan is now being presented to the Cook County Board of Commissioners for review and consideration for approval and adoption; and
WHEREAS, the adoption by the Cook County Board of Commissioners will enable the Department to submit the final Uplift Cook strategic plan to HUD in advance of their August 2025 deadline; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby:
- Adopt in its entirety the Uplift Cook strategic plan; and
- Permit the Department to submit the final Uplift Cook strategic plan to HUD in advance of their August 2025 deadline
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