Together, with the support of our donors, the DeKalb County Community Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in DeKalb County. Grants from the Community Foundation come from a variety of grant programs. Each program is unique in how to apply, who it supports, and the impact it creates. So how do these grants impact the community in which we live? Learn more in this grant in action story below. Thank you, donors, for making grants like these possible! Funding for Community Needs Grants is made possible through donor generosity to Community Impact Funds at the Foundation.

See this grant in action story in the 2023 Annual Report!

What do you do with a downtown frontage building that has been vacant since 2014? In Hinckley, IL, they decided to relocate their existing community library there. Located in the heart of downtown Hinckley, the building was formerly a medical facility.

Since 1913, the Hinckley Public Library has met the community’s informational, cultural, and connectivity needs. It offers 20,000 books and other materials, hosts hundreds of community events, offers free internet access, and welcomes visitors from Hinckley and neighboring towns. The library is a community hub where patrons of all ages can take advantage of free services and make connections. It currently operates from a rented basement of the nearly 100-year-old Hinckley Community Building.

One of the biggest challenges with the library’s current space is its inaccessibility. The library provides curbside pickup and home delivery, but there needs to be more building access for people with mobility issues. The new building will be fully ADA-compliant.

The Hinckley Public Library District applied for a Community Needs Grant in the fall of 2023 and received a $50,000 grant toward the new library. Thanks to federal and community grants, generous local donations, and a few reserves, construction will begin in 2024, with a planned grand opening for late 2025.

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