SCP Round 3 Application

Strong Communities Program

Round 3 Grant Application
Please fill out this Jotform Application to request funding under

Strong Communities Program (SCP) Round 3

Applications can be saved and returned to later. If an applicant would like to save the application and not yet submit, you must click the “Save and Finish Later” button at the bottom of this page. Applicants will then receive an email with changes allowing them to complete an application. NOTE: You will need to create a free Jotform account to "Save and Finish Later".

The Application Guide can be found here.

Applications are due by Tuesday, June 16, 2026, by 3:00 PM, CDT.

All materials must be submitted through the Jotform application. No hard copies will be accepted. Please direct all questions to SCPinfo@ihda.org.

Applicant Information

This section is unscored.
County/Municipality Name
Main Office Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityCounty

Zip Code
Primary Contact Name

First NameLast Name
Primary Contact Title
Primary Contact Phone Number
XXX-XXX-XXXX
Extension
xxxx
Primary Contact Email Address
example@example.com
Secondary Contact Name

First NameLast Name
Secondary Contact Title
Secondary Contact Phone Number
XXX-XXX-XXXX
Extension
xxxx
Secondary Contact Email Address
example@example.com
Grant Request Amount:
Minimum request amount is $50,000 (exceptions will be considered based on applicant’s work plan at IHDA’s sole discretion). Maximum grant amounts are $750,000 per applicant in the State of Illinois (no match funds required).
Geographical Boundary: Please provide the geographies to be covered under this grant by including the census tract information. You can also provide target areas and neighborhood or community area names. You may state the entire city or county if it is applicable. Please explain why you are choosing this particular area to concentrate your efforts (i.e., if it aligns with other local planning efforts). Please note subsequent questions in the scored sections will ask for specific data in this geographic area.

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General Information

Please report the following information for your jurisdiction. Figures should be gathered from the most recent U.S. Census Bureau information when possible (we recommend using the U.S. Census QuickFacts Tool). Your application will not be evaluated based on this population data. Please contact SCPinfo@ihda.org if you need additional support gathering this information.
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General Information

Please report the following information for your jurisdiction. Figures should be gathered from the most recent U.S. Census Bureau information when possible (we recommend using the U.S. Census QuickFacts Tool). Your application will not be evaluated based on this population data. Please contact SCPinfo@ihda.org if you need additional support gathering this information.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. Population of your Jurisdiction
(latest Census info)
2. Number of Housing Units
(latest Census info)

Scoring Category 1: Need

This section will allow you to detail your jurisdiction’s housing needs specifically as it is affected by abandoned and/or vacant residential properties. Please make sure to fill in all the boxes or put in “N/A” if the question does not apply to your jurisdiction.

3. Jurisdictional Data: Complete the chart below to the best of your ability by providing the data requested to demonstrate the burden that vacant and abandoned residential properties have placed on your jurisdiction throughout the past 4 years.

Rows	2022	2023	2024	2025 (If Available)	Data Source
Number of abandoned residential properties within your jurisdiction
Number of vacant residential lots/parcels within your jurisdiction
Amount that the jurisdiction has expended on maintaining and demolishing abandoned residential properties

4. Please explain your jurisdiction’s need for funding in managing its inventory of vacant and abandoned properties. Provide any statistics to adequately demonstrate verifiable need. If you cite any data, please make sure to reference the source and provide a link if possible. A good response will include such things as crime and vandalism rates (i.e. data from your local police department), vacancy rates, property values over the years, impact vacant and abandoned properties have had on your EAV, additional financial burden to the community, etc. in the specific geographic areas detailed in the previous section. Please provide a robust narrative that includes quantifiable metrics when available (reasoned estimates are acceptable).

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Scoring Category 2: Capacity

This section will allow IHDA to assess an applicant’s ability to manage this grant. Please make sure to fill in all the boxes or put in “N/A” if the question does not apply to your jurisdiction.
5. Applicants with a population of 800 or more (or those that own or operate public utilities or that have bonded debt) must provide a copy of their most recent independent financial audit. If a Management Letter was issued, a copy of the letter must also be attached. Applicants with a population less than 800 (and do not own or operate public utilities and do not have bonded debt), must provide their most recent annual financial report filed with the Illinois Comptroller.

NOTE: Include any Management Response and/or Corrective Action Plan. The Management Response and/or Corrective Action Plan MUST be on applicant’s letterhead and be signed by the Mayor, Chief Executive Officer, or chief executive of the applicant. IHDA reserves the right to use lack of corrective action or lack of response to findings to result in a point deduction. Submission of an audit or an annual financial report, as applicable, dated more than two years prior to the date of this application may result in a point deduction or disqualification.
Audit/financial report Upload (Please name file: "Applicant name" Financial)

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6. Date that an audit/financial report was performed
7. Dates which audit/financial report covered (fiscal year)
8. Did the audit have any findings?
8a. Summarize any audit findings, including page numbers of findings and solutions. Please provide an explanation if the audit is more than two years old.

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8b. Page(s) containing Management Response and/or Corrective Action Plan. If not applicable, indicate “N/A”.
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Questions 9 and 10 require you to complete and upload a spreadsheet.

Question 9 requires a list of staff members responsible for administering this grant.

Question 10 requires a list of grants and other programs managed by the jurisdiction.

These questions can be found on the spreadsheet here. Please download, complete the spreadsheet and upload it to this JotForm application.

_________________________________
Please upload completed Question 9 and 10 spreadsheet below. (Please name file: "Applicant name" Q9 Q10)

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11. Does your organization have experience managing compliance in any of the following areas?

Rows	YES	NO
Historical Preservation
Lead-based Paint Laws
Illinois Prevailing Wage

12. Please provide any additional information regarding your jurisdiction's capacity to manage a Strong Communities Program Round 3 grant that you did not already discuss in the previous questions.

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Scoring Category 3: Impact

This section will assess how SCP funding can complement current policies and plans in revitalization efforts and help alleviate future vacant and abandoned properties. Please make sure to fill in all the boxes or put in “N/A” if the question does not apply to your jurisdiction.
Please provide any active revitalization efforts within your jurisdiction, including efforts to mitigate vacant and abandoned properties. Make sure to include all plans/documents listed as attachments with your application submission. Please provide the most recent documentation.

For applicants, please refer to the Geographical Boundary question mentioned under “Applicant Information” above when filling out questions 13-19

13. Local Legislation (code enforcement, weed ordinance, etc.)

Rows	Local Legislation
Name of legislation
Purpose of legislation

Please upload your Local Legislation document(s) below. (Please name file: "Applicant name" Local Legis)

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14. Vacant Property Registry

Rows	Vacant Property Registry
Who is responsible for maintaining/updating this list?
How often is it updated?
Who updates the registry?
How will SCP funds complement this effort?

Please upload your Vacant Property Registry plans/documents below. (Please name file: "Applicant name" Vacant Reg)

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Additional Revitalization Plan(s)

Rows	Year published	Coverage years	Summarize your jurisdiction’s approach to vacant and abandoned properties	How will SCP funds complement this effort?
15. Revitalization Plan
16. Comprehensive Plan
17. Housing Plan
18. Other Plan
19. Other Plan

Please upload any additional Revitalization Effort plans/documents below. (Please name file: "Applicant name" Revi Plan)

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20. If you do NOT have any plans mentioned in Q13-19, are you in the process of creating any?
20a. If YES, what plan(s) and where are you in the process? (Drafting stage, public review, public meetings, at City Council for approval, etc.) Upload any public facing documents below.

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Please upload any public facing documents for Question 20a below (Please name file: "Applicant name" Public Doc).

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20b. If NO, please provide a brief narrative describing what your jurisdiction has done or plans to do to address the impact of vacant and abandoned residential properties. Include a brief explanation of why the plans listed above were not an option (i.e. smaller, rural community lacking planning resources) Please be as specific as possible.

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21. Provide any quantifiable metrics to demonstrate the positive impact(s) that past and current efforts to address housing revitalization efforts have had in your community. Please be specific and as descriptive as possible. For example, list the activity (e.g., “The community removed ten vacant and abandoned homes”) and the corresponding impact (e.g., “As a result of these removals, we have seen neighboring homeowners make improvements; new development occurring as a result; increases in property values; new community gardens and green spaces”, etc.). List quantifiable outcomes as much as possible.

Rows	Activity	Impact
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Scoring Category 4: Budget and Cost Reasonableness

This section will review your jurisdiction’s financial needs and budgetary parameters. Please make sure to fill in all the boxes or put in “N/A” if the question does not apply to your jurisdiction.
Total grant request amount (auto-populates as entered under “Applicant Information” at top of application):

22. Please provide an estimated budget for the activities you plan for the Strong Communities Program Round 3 funding. It is acceptable to submit previous eligible activities (acquisition, abandonment petition filed, securing the property such as board-ups, fencing around the perimeter, inspections, utility disconnect, and environmental inspections) occurring after January 1, 2025. Your grant request amount must equal your total budget amount. Maximum costs per individual PIN are noted below.

Rows	Number of Activities/Occurrences	Average Amount per Occurrence	Total Budget	Work Undertaken By...
Property Acquisition (not to exceed $15,000 per PIN)
Demolition (not to exceed $40,000 per PIN; including all reasonable hard and soft construction costs)
Rehabilitation (not to exceed $125,000 per PIN; exterior and interior rehab work i.e., roof, window, door repairs)
Tree, Shrub and Debris Removal (including grass cutting)
Administrative Expenses (automatically calculated at 10% of total award)

Grand Total Budget amount from Question 22 above (auto-calculated)
23. Describe your process(es) for procuring third-party vendors for work under this grant.

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24. Describe the specific steps that you will take to ensure that all costs under this grant are competitive and reasonable.

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Scoring Category 5: Readiness to Proceed

This section will allow IHDA to assess an applicant’s readiness to proceed with this grant at the time of award. Please make sure to fill in all the boxes or put in “N/A” if the question does not apply to your jurisdiction.
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Questions 25 and 26 require you to complete and upload a spreadsheet.

Question 25 requires work plan and timeline details.

Question 26 requires a list of specific properties you intend to perform work on under this grant.

These questions can be found on the spreadsheet here. Please download, complete the spreadsheet and upload it to this JotForm application.

_________________________________
Please upload completed Question 25 and 26 spreadsheet below. (Please name file: "Applicant name" Q25 Q26)

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27. SCP is a reimbursement program. Do you have the financial capacity to pay vendors/contractors once projects are completed and prior to SCP quarterly reimbursements?
28. What challenges do you anticipate might hinder your jurisdiction's ability to expend its funding on time?

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29. Please describe your jurisdiction’s interdepartmental coordination for a project. For example, communication between legal, public works, and finance departments.

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30. What is your process to address staff turnover and to manage administrative workload?

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31. Will you be using a Third Party Administrator?
31a. If YES, please detail what kind of work they will be doing on your behalf. For example, the administrator will only be submitting our preapproval requests and/or reimbursement requests, they will be actively participating in identifying properties for projects, etc.

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32. Please provide any additional information regarding your jurisdiction's readiness to proceed that you did not already discuss in the previous questions.

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Standard Requirements and Certifications

Every grantee under the Program will be required to comply with these certifications and requirements as well as any additional certifications or requirements covered in the grant documents or requested by IHDA:

1. Applicant certifies that all statements herein are true, accurate, and complete;

2. Applicant will not permit any discrimination on the basis of gender, race, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability in connection with its participation in the Program;

3. Applicant will ensure expenditures of grant funds are for eligible uses under the Program;

4. Applicant will maintain records in connection with administration of the Program for five (5) years after the termination of the funding agreement;

5. Applicant will comply with the terms and conditions of the Program;

6. Applicant will comply with monitoring and evaluation of the Program through the full grant term;

7. Applicant will comply with all Illinois prevailing wage requirements;

8. Applicant will comply with all federal/state/local laws and regulations, including, but not limited to historical preservation, environmental, demolition, and lead based paint laws; Applicant agrees and acknowledges that it is its responsibility to determine which laws and regulations apply;

9. Applicant certifies that all procurements/vendor contracts comply and will continue to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including applicable municipal procurement policies and procedures;

10. Applicant certifies that they have legal authority and rights to complete the demolition for all properties proposed.

11. Neither the applicant, nor its affiliates or related entities are delinquent in the payment of any debt to the State of Illinois (or if delinquent, has entered into a deferred payment plan to pay any debt)
On behalf of County/Municipality*, I certify that the information contained herein accurately reflects my jurisdiction’s commitment and ability to participate fully in the Strong Communities Program.

First Name* Last Name* Title* Date
PLEASE NOTE: You must create a free JotForm account in order to "Save and Finish Later"

Applications are due by Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 3:00 PM, CDT.
Should be Empty:

Strong Communities Program

Applicant Information

General Information

General Information

Scoring Category 1: Need

Scoring Category 2: Capacity

Scoring Category 3: Impact

Scoring Category 4: Budget and Cost Reasonableness

Scoring Category 5: Readiness to Proceed