Kankakee Times

The Kankakee Economic and Community Development Agency (ECDA) has received a $28,723 grant from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA), city leaders said.

The grant comes from the ICJIA's new Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Program, created under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act.

The legislation required that 25% of all revenue from the cannabis industry help communities that have been the hardest hit by the war on drugs.

The award will support hiring a professional planner to assist the department prepare an "Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing" report, which is required every five years under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development standards.

"Our city team is committed to moving Kankakee Forward in a way that embraces equity and is intentional as we address the factors that contribute to violence in our neighborhoods," Kankakee Mayor Chastity Wells-Armstrong said in the release. "I will continue to serve as a strong advocate for our residents and appreciate the work of the entire R3 Board to provide these much-needed resources, particularly to areas of the community where disinvestment has been a matter of policy and practice."

The publicly available report will inform the city's approach to developing short- and long-term plans for developers to address Kankakee's greatest housing needs.

"The pandemic has really brought to light how our homes have become our office, playground, school, theater, resting place, and much more," ECDA Director Barbi Brewer-Watson said in the release. "Everyone should have access to housing choices that fit their needs and not be denied those choices due to any form of discrimination. This study will examine our local laws, ordinances, statutes, and policies as well as our local conditions and how those conditions affect location, accessibility, and availability."