County Board green lights $740,000 in housing funding

Muddy River News | August 14, 2024 | By J. Robert Gough, Publisher

QUINCY — The Adams County Board has approved the first grant allocations from the $1 million set aside for housing out of American Rescue Plan Act dollars.

There were 21 applicants for the Growing Residential Opportunities County-Wide (GROW) program and 17 were awarded funds totaling $740,000.

The Great River Economic Development Foundation (GREDF) vetted the proposals and made its recommendation to the County. The County paid GREDF $20,000 to do the vetting.

The 17 projects will account for 49 new housing units.

The following organizations and addresses received the first wave of funding:

  • $100,000 for Rupp Enterprises at 2435 Maine in Quincy.
  • $100,000 for ESG Properties at 700 N. 52nd location in Quincy.
  • $100,000 for Powell’s Pride LLC at 815 S. 13th location in Quincy.
  • $100,000 for Mays Properties at 1611, 1615, 1601, 1605 and 1609 Cherry in Quincy.
  • $40,000 for D&D Tri-State Properties at 204 E. Railroad, $20,000 for 403 1/2 Main, and $20,000 for 403 Main, all in Loraine.
  • $80,000 for Niesen Properties at 834 Meadow Lark Drive in Quincy.
  • $40,000 for Sonsview Properties, Inc. at 201-205 Locust and 1616 N. Second, both in Quincy.
  • $20,000 for Calfee Rental at 109-113 N. Broad in Loraine.
  • $20,000 for Wayne Bigelow at 812 S. 16th in Quincy.
  • $20,000 for Chicory Properties at 1235 Kentucky in Quincy.
  • $20,000 for Carol Shaffer and Mickey Tuter’s 411 S. Hedrick property in Loraine.
  • $20,000 for Christopher and Marion Dye’s 916 Adams property in Quincy.
  • $20,000 for SHARE Home Automation and Real Estate at 1418 N. Sixth in Quincy.
  • $20,000 for Updown LLC at 308 N. 8th St. in Quincy.

Adams County Finance Committee Chair Bret Austin said $240,000 remains in the fund and an emphasis will be placed on developments outside of Quincy in the next round.

The County Board also heard a request for $250,000 in ARPA funds for the Adams County Childcare Task Force.

The task force is looking for the money to match a $220,000 grant to fund the Adams County Childcare Advancement and Recruitment Effort for nine years.

The Adams County Childcare Task Force includes the Community Foundation of West Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri, Moorman Foundation, Tracy Family Foundation, Great River Economic Development Foundation, Tri-State Development Foundation, Blessing Health, John Wood Community College and West Central Child Care Connection.

The program would pay for the vocational training of high school and college students to become childcare specialists. It can also fund graduates and workers already in the field to practice in Adams County using conditional scholarships and bonuses.

The task force has studies that report only about half Adams County’s childcare needs can be met by the current availability of licensed childcare centers.