Last year, 11 young African-Americans got the chance to work for budding entrepreneurs, thanks to a federal grant administered by the city.
Each entrepreneur in the Operation Empowerment program that hired an African-American between 16 and 23 years old received a $2,500 Community Development Block Grant. Under the program, run by the African-American Chamber of Commerce, 11 youths were hired by eight businesses, said chamber President Mary Hansbrough.
Some of the youths working at the mostly part-time jobs in areas from delivery to construction are in school, and others hope to land a full-time job as a result of the program. The idea is to both help young people and small businesses run by individuals.
City officials have deemed the budding program, which is still in its first year, a success. As a result, the block grant working committee last week recommended the African-American Chamber receive $75,000 for similar programs during the next fiscal year, an increase of $50,000 above last year’s funding.
Of that $75,000, about $50,000 would be allocated toward Operation Empowerment. The remaining $25,000 would be used to establish a revolving loan to expanding entrepreneurial businesses. In exchange for a loan, the company would have to promise to hire at least one additional person, Hansbrough said.
The recommendation of $75,000 for the two African-American programs is one of 39 made by the committee, which helps city officials divvy up about $1.4 million in federal funding, said Charles J. Huff, director of the Division of Neighborhood Redevelopment. At next Tuesday’s meeting, the City Council will vote on the recommendations.
Other major recommended recipients include the Youth and Handicapped Employment Program run by the Citizens for Neighborhood Improvement, $31,000; Project Y.E.S., A Quad County Urban League initiative that helps those who dropped out or were expelled from high school continue their education, $24,260; a summertime tutoring program for struggling high school students run by Waubonsee Community College, $42,000; and home ownership counseling offered by Joseph Corp., $25,000.
Other funds have been allocated to infrastructure programs, including $135,000 for rehabilitation of an east side building to house a federal Head Start program; $71,550 to the YMCA for rehabilitation; $49,500 to Joseph Corp. for its home-rehabilitation efforts; $112,500 to a city preservation loan program; $135,000 to a citywide facade improvement program; $32,000 to Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity; and $31,500 to Beaupre Elementary School to build a playground.
Other major allocations include $54,000 to Neighborhood Housing Services; $115,010 for city neighborhood improvements; and $239,200 to run the city Division of Neighborhood Redevelopment and Historic Preservation.
