WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration is awarding $3.3 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to nine EDA Economic Development Districts across Illinois to update economic development plans and fortify programs to assist communities in responding to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Trump Administration is eager to allocate these essential CARES Act funds and deliver on our promise to help American communities recover from the impact of COVID-19,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “I am proud of the perseverance and strength shown by our communities coast to coast throughout this pandemic, and these funds will help provide Illinois with resources to make a swift and lasting economic comeback.”
“These investments come at a crucial time to help Illinois’ and our nation’s economy come roaring back and provide hard-working Americans with new opportunities,” said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “We are pleased to make these investments in Illinois’ EDA Economic Development Districts to help them prevent, prepare, and respond to coronavirus.”
“As the pandemic continues to put economic stress on small businesses and communities, this federal funding will provide critical economic relief throughout Illinois,” said Senator Dick Durbin. “I will continue working with my colleagues to ensure that every corner of Illinois has the federal resources needed to help get communities and small businesses back on their feet.”

“Southern Illinois small businesses have been hit hard by the COVID-19 shutdown,” said Congressman Mike Bost (IL-12). “These grants will provide the Southern Five Regional Planning District and Development Commission and the Southwestern Illinois Metropolitan and Regional Planning Commission with vitally important resources so that they can continue helping local businesses and communities respond to and recover from this pandemic.”
The EDA investments announced include the Blackhawk Hills Resource Conservation and Development, Rock Falls, which will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by supporting local businesses, including the leisure, hospitality, and personal services industries; launching an online resource for local entrepreneurs; developing a plan to attract a strong workforce; and identifying land for development.
Blackhawk Hills Resource Conservation and Development serves the counties of Ogle, Lee, Carroll, Jo Daviess, Stephenson, and Whiteside.
These entities receiving funding, all EDA-designated Economic Development Districts (EDD), are some of the more than 850 existing, high-performing EDA EDD, University Center, Tribal, and Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grant recipients invited to apply for supplemental funding under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The CARES Act, signed into law by President Donald J. Trump, provides EDA with $1.5 billion for economic development assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic.
On May 7, Secretary Ross announced that EDA is accepting applications for CARES Act Recovery Assistance funding opportunities.
EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance, which is being administered under the authority of the bureau’s flexible Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) (PDF) program, provides a wide-range of financial assistance to communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. For complete information, please visit our recently updated EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance page.