Funding supports the construction and renovation of early childhood facilities in Illinois

Springfield – The Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB) on Jan 24th, announced the recipients of the Early Childhood Construction Grant (ECCG) program. Governor Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois capital plan has allocated nearly $60 million in available funding for early childhood centers.

The grant opportunity was available to nonprofit early childhood providers and public-school districts seeking to increase their capacity to provide care or educational opportunities for children in underserved communities. The funding provides support for the construction, expansion, or renovation of their facilities, not to exceed $10 million per project.

“Rebuild Illinois is all about building a brighter, more prosperous future for generations to come—and that means investing in our youngest Illinoisans,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “From Peoria to Kankakee to Chicago, we are dispersing millions through our Early Childhood Construction Grant program to make sure that underserved children get the care they need and deserve. This isn’t just an investment in our children—it’s an investment in our families, our childcare workers, our communities, and our economic development.”

The Capital Development Board received 238 applicants for the Early Childhood Construction Grant from counties across the State. More than 59% of applicants were based in the Chicagoland area. Applications were reviewed on a competitive basis and evaluated on need, sustainability, and budget and project readiness. Through the merit-based review process that concluded this month, eight providers were selected for provisional awards. Priority was given to applicants furthest from adequacy and in-district areas that had the greatest need for serving low-income families.

The Early Childhood Construction Grant recipients include:

- Hometown School District #123 -- Oak Lawn, Illinois

- Kankakee School District #111 -- Kankakee, Illinois

- Chicago Commons Association -- Chicago, Illinois

- LaSalle Elementary School District #122 -- LaSalle, Illinois

- Valley View Public Schools Community District #395-U -- Bolingbrook, Illinois

- Harlem Community Center -- Machesney Park, Illinois

- Round Lake Area Schools -- Round Lake, Illinois

- UnityPoint Health- Methodist -- Peoria, Illinois

Governor Pritzker’s bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan provides essential funding to support the revitalization and improvement of Illinois roadways, state facilities, universities, bridges, and railways over a six-year period. The initiative seeks to address critical infrastructure and economic opportunity.