McHenry County Disburses $3.69M In COVID Funds

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — The McHenry County Board has allocated $3.69 million in federal COVID-19 recovery funds to projects and programs planned at McHenry County College, District 155 and the Child Advocacy Center of McHenry County.

Board members voted unanimously at their Jan. 18 meeting to approve a $1.69 million award to help fund state-of-the-art educational and training equipment for McHenry County College’s new Foglia Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation. Another $1.5 million award to Community High School District 155 will finance a jobs readiness and exploration program for nursing and other fields.

The county board also approved $500,000 to support the Child Advocacy Center of McHenry County’s mission to help child abuse victims.

“These first three awards approved by the County Board are the epitome of what we had in mind when we created Advance McHenry County,” County Board Chairman Mike Buehler, R-Crystal Lake, said. “We look forward to seeing more and more requests come before us to put this funding to work for the people in thoughtful and impactful ways.”

The first phase of the Advance McHenry County plan will invest half of the $59.7 million the county is set to receive in American Rescue Plan Act funding. Of the $29.8 million to be disbursed in this phase, $14 million will be allocated to infrastructure capital projects, and $8 million will be dedicated to manufacturing, workforce development and jobs programs, according to a news release from McHenry County.

Just under $3 million will be allocated to nonprofit agencies, and another $3 million will be set aside for special districts and other local governments that did not receive ARPA funds.

McHenry County College’s award will support more than half of the equipment costs for the new center. The college expects to break ground this summer on the state-of-the art facility, which will house numerous manufacturing and technology-related jobs programs.

“On behalf of McHenry County College, we offer a tremendous thank you to McHenry County and the Advance McHenry County program,” said McHenry County College President Clint Gabbard . “This funding will allow us to provide program equipment that will be at the heart of inspiring and training our students. Ultimately, our goal for the Foglia Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation is to produce an entrepreneurial, well-trained and confident workforce that drives a vital economy for McHenry County.”

District 155’s award will fund the creation of a certified nursing assistant program, as well as broader job training. The district consists of Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake South, Cary-Grove and Prairie Ridge high schools.

“Our partnership with the county emphasizes our shared commitment and vision to promote career exploration for our high school students, cultivate real-world experiences with local business, and fill the employment gap in McHenry County,” D155 Superintendent Steve Olson said. “We are grateful for the County Board’s investment, which will have far-reaching benefits for our students, families, local businesses and taxpayers.”

Advance McHenry County funding will allow the Child Advocacy Center to support its staff, and to provide extensive child abuse investigation training for law enforcement, mental health professionals and medical providers countywide. The center has served victims of child abuse since 1999.

“This funding also will enable us to help victims of child abuse and affected family members by providing them needed items such as clothing, personal hygiene items and gift cards for necessities such as groceries and gas,”said Misty Marinier, Child Advocacy Center executive director. “We are so very thankful for this funding opportunity.”

Funding requests received by the county are first evaluated by The Bronner Group, the firm hired to help administer the program, on a 100-point scale developed to gauge community benefit; the firm also ensures that the requests align with federal guidelines governing how ARPA funds are used. McHenry County College’s proposal received a 91 percent score, with District 155 and the Child Advocacy Center receiving 83 and 81 points, respectively.