County Looks to Streamline ARPA Grants

The Kankakee County Board Monday held a meeting of the whole to discuss revised procedures for the disbursement of 21.4 million dollars in American Rescue Plan Act Grants.   Kankakee County Board Chairman Andy Wheeler says the goal of the meeting was to discuss ways to streamline the process.   In the end the board decided to hire an outside non-profit agency to partner with, to handle what is expected to be maybe 50 or more requests from non-profits for funding.  Wheeler says they simply don’t have the manpower to take on the task in house.  The county will still manage grants going to county governmental departments, businesses and some non-profits.    Also today the board discussed where financial assistance should be rendered.  Some suggestions were substance abuse and mental health programs as well as public safety issues like the city of Kankakee is dealing with.