Community Economic Development
As part of our commitment to strengthening local economies, the DeKalb County Community Foundation launched the Community Economic Development Grant Program to support municipalities and communities across DeKalb County, IL. With help from generous donors, $600,000 was committed to this effort, allowing each municipality to apply for up to $40,000 for projects aligned with local economic development goals.
For questions or additional information, please contact Grants & Community Initiatives Director Jolene Willis at 815-748-5383 or j.willis@dekalbccf.org.
Grant Updates
Launched in 2016, this time-limited program helped catalyze planning and implementation efforts in communities across the county. As a result, several municipalities created or updated strategic economic development plans, explored business retention strategies, and strengthened their long-term capacity for growth. Though the grant program has concluded (2024), our support for initiatives that build economic opportunity and resilience continues through other community engagement efforts.
Below, explore a selection of grant updates from 2016-2024.
- Coming soon Community Economic Development Grants FINAL REPORT
- August 2023 - - $89,200 distributed to four communities - 2022 Annual Report
- November 2022 - $89,200 distributed to four communities - 2022 Report to the Community
- August 2020 - Economic Development Grants - 2019 Community Foundation Annual Report
- July 2017 - Economic Development Planning Progresses One Community at a Time
- June 2016 - Grants Provide Boost for Countywide Planning and Projects
- September 2016 - New Foundation Grant Funds Community Economic Development
Out of a desire to give back and love for their community, philanthropists of all ages have established and contributed to Community Impact Funds at the Community Foundation. These Funds provided grant dollars for the Community Economic Development Grant program.
