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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
STARTING BLOCK GRANTS - 2023
WHEREAS, in November 2021, the Cook County Board of Commissioners passed Resolution No. 21-5542 creating a special purpose fund for Equity and Inclusion ("Equity Fund") dedicated to addressing historical disparities and disinvestment communities that are marginalized or have experienced other social and economic disparities; and
WHEREAS, through the Equity Fund, intentional investments from government resources are allocated to address historical and continued disparities and disinvestment, (as defined in the Equity Report) and to bring advocates, service providers, and other partners to the table as thought partners and decision-makers; and
WHEREAS, in May 2022, in conjunction with the release of the inaugural Equity Fund Report, Cook County brought forth and approved a resolution detailing the Equity Fund's first installment spending plan for the initial $50M which was allocated to the fund as part of the FY22 budget; and
WHEREAS, Equity in Grantmaking/Capacity Building was established as a priority area and confirmed by the board via Resolution #22-2779 "Program Allocation for Budgeted FY 2022 Equity and Inclusion Special Purpose Funds"; and
WHEREAS, the Bureau of Economic Development and Office of the President were designated as program leads for Equity in Grantmaking/Capacity Building Grant Resolution #22-2779; and
WHEREAS, the Office of the President convened Cook County agencies including, but not limited to, the Justice Advisory Council, Bureau of Economic Development, Office of the Chief Procurement Officer, Department of Transportation and Highways, Cook County Health, Cook County Department of Public Health, and the Department of Environment and Sustainability as the Equity in Grantmaking Workgroup; and
WHEREAS, the Equity in Grantmaking Workgroup recommended $5 million of first round funding for a Cook County Starting Block Grant initiative, consisting of $4 million from the Equity Fund ...
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