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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
PROPOSED RESOLUTION FOR AN ARPA VITAL COMMUNITIES PROGRAM INITIATIVE IMPLEMENTED BY THE BUREAU OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2021, the federal government authorized the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) which includes $1.9 trillion in federal stimulus funds to hasten the United States’ recovery from the economic and health effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, specifically, the federal government has authorized and allocated a federal award of approximately $1,000,372,385 of ARPA funding to Cook County to assist the County in its recovery from the economic and health effects of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on June 24, 2021, the Cook County American Rescue Plan Act Framework (the “ARPA Framework”) was presented to the Cook County Board of Commissioners; and
WHEREAS, to effectuate the approach outlined in the ARPA Framework, the Cook County Board of Commissioners authorized the Chief Financial Officer and the Budget Director to expend a limited amount of ARPA funding via Resolution 21-3657 for the purpose of continuing and expanding existing County programs and initiatives, including any created under CRF, as well as for the purpose of building operational support capacity within County departments and offices to assist with managing the ARPA funded initiatives; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 22-0637 authorized the Chief Financial Officer, Budget Director, Chief Procurement Officer and applicable using agencies to issue grants, contracts and agreements for up to $60M in ARPA funding for Healthy Communities programs approved via Resolution 22-0637; and
WHEREAS, to further the Policy Roadmap Goal to pursue inclusive economic and community growth by supporting residents, growing businesses, attracting investment and nurturing talent, the Bureau of Economic Development (BED) has developed a menu of Vital and Healthy Communities programs and initiatives, including the Capacity-Building Investments in Food Access Sites Program, which have undergone review and approval through the Project Management Office process to utilize ARPA funding for such programs and initiatives pursuant to the issuance of grants, contracts and agreements; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 22-0637 provided that any grants issued in regard to ARPA programs in an amount over $1M shall require the approval of the Cook County Board of Commissioners; and
WHEREAS, the Greater Chicago Food Depository is an established Cook County local food bank agency, which has extensive experience and expertise in providing food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in communities; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 22-2807 authorized the Bureau of Economic Development to enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Greater Chicago Food Depository in an aggregate amount of up to $2,000,000 to implement the Capacity-Building Investments in Food Access Sites Program; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 25-4395 amended the Subrecipient Agreement with the Greater Chicago Food Depository to increase the total funding by $2,000,000, raising the original approved amount from $2,000,000 to a revised total of up to $4,000,000, to continue implementation of the Food Access Program; and
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago periodically releases Tax Increment Financing (TIF) dollars to itself and affected taxing bodies including Cook County, and did so for its FY26 budget as approved by the City Council on December 20, 2025; and
WHEREAS, in its own Fiscal Year 2026 budget passed on November 20, 2025, Cook County allocated these TIF funds toward critical social services. For funds allocated to the Bureau of Economic Development programs, the priority was on keeping residents stable through additional funding for food and housing support as areas particularly affected by major federal policy and funding shifts; and
WHEREAS, the Food Access program in partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository is intended to expand the availability of direct food aid in Suburban Cook County and Chicago; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby approves the issuance of the following agreement amendment by the BED, subject to satisfactory performance of the program by the grantee and subject to appropriation by the Board:
Approve an amendment to the Agreement with the Greater Chicago Food Depository to increase the total funding by $10,000,000 in corporate funds (via TIF reallocation) for a revised total of up to $14,000,000in ARPA and corporate funds to continue implementation of the Food Access Program, which provides assistance to residents throughout Cook County in meeting their household food needs.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Bureau Chief of BED or its designee to modify the agreements and funding allocations to all BED selected organizations based upon need and utilization; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that funding for the BED TIF Programs shall be subject to availability of funds and appropriation of funding by the Cook County Board of Commissioners.
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