american rescue plan – CU-CitizenAccess.org

A map of shootings in Champaign overlaid with color-coded community indicators from Jan. 1, 2016 to Nov. 15, 2021. These indicators consider area demographics such as race and household income, and are outlined in the city's community violence reduction blueprint.

Record-breaking numbers in C-U elicit $3.2 million annual gun violence reduction plan

Post author:Heather Robinson / For CU-CitizenAccess and Andrew Prozorovsky / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published:August 25, 2022
Post category:Government Neighborhoods Public Funds

The City of Champaign is implementing a multi-million-dollar plan to combat local gun violence focusing spending on its street outreach program intended to aid…

Read more about the article Motion carries for Champaign County jail to face renovations, committee aims for improved health conditions

Champaign County Board

The Jail Facilities Committee questions Champaign County Sheriff Dustin Heuerman on November 18, 2021.

Motion carries for Champaign County jail to face renovations, committee aims for improved health conditions

Post author:Mona Alrazzaq / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published:December 22, 2021
Post category:Government Justice Public Funds

With the upcoming closure of the County jail in downtown Urbana, the Champaign County Jail Facilities Committee passed a motion last month to fund to health and educational programs in the Champaign County Satellite Jail. Committee members addressed the urgency of moving forward with renovations as quickly as possible throughout these meetings. Issues such as replacing the heating, air, ventilation and cooling systems of the satellite jail were discussed, and designating currently unallocated American Rescue Plan funds specifically to renovate the jail.

Read more about the article United Garden Hills lighting, flooding projects underway after years of resident complaints

United Garden Hills, Facebook

Flooding on Anita Dr. in the Garden Hills neighborhood in June 2021.

United Garden Hills lighting, flooding projects underway after years of resident complaints

Post author:Diana Anghel / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published:December 17, 2021
Post category:Neighborhoods Public Funds

In June, the city was awarded $25 million through the American Rescue Plan (ARP), a COVID-19 economic relief plan disbursing emergency funds. Half of the funds have already been given to the city, while the other half will be received next year. Kay Nees, finance director of the city, said the ARP was like a “key missing piece” in order to get to work on Garden Hills. The two efforts, a drainage project to target flooding, and a lighting project to make the streets safer, have their own timeline, budget and design. The first phase of the drainage project has already been completed: creating greenspace to install detention basins. The city worked with residents to demolish properties that were frequently getting flooded to make room for detention basins.