Administrator: Lee County under consideration for $4M community project funding; BUILD notice delayed

Administrator Jeremy updated the board on several federal and regional projects. He said the county had been selected for funding consideration for a $4,000,000 community project funding request submitted with Congressman Lahud's office for a highway department facility project, but cautioned that several steps remain: action by the Appropriations Committee, votes in the House and Senate, and the president's signature.

"At this stage, it needs to go to the Appropriations Committee for vote," Jeremy said, adding that the item would then need to be included in the budget by Oct. 1 and followed by agency processes with the USDA. He said the county is in consideration but not guaranteed the funding.

Jeremy said notification of awards for the county's BUILD grant application will not be issued until June or July and that USDA application work could extend into the first quarter of 2027. He also reported the county had submitted a congressionally directed spending project for emergency generation at the New Courts Building that was not selected and that regional projects — including Stewart Creek and the South Dixon solar projects and a ComEd transmission study for the South Dixon Industrial Park — are proceeding with expected operation dates around 2028–2029.

Jeremy said he will continue to update the board as the federal processes progress.