Equity Fund Addendum
Equity Fund Progress Report 2025
The Equity Fund reflects Cook County’s commitment to operationalizing equity across all levels of government. The work of the Fund represents a collective effort, from external partners serving on the Equity Fund Advisory Taskforce to departmental leads implementing recommendations from the Equity Fund, all with the shared goal of advancing systems-level change within the County’s policy priority areas.
The bold and transformative work underway reflects the County’s larger vision: to create safe, healthy, and thriving communities by reimagining and transforming systems related to justice, public safety, health, housing, economic opportunity, community development, and social services. This work intentionally prioritizes fairness across communities and proactively invests resources in solutions that promote equitable outcomes.
In addition to the significant planning and implementation being led by County departments, the Equity Fund Advisory Taskforce has met quarterly throughout the year and continues to play an integral role in advancing three key priorities aligned with both the Taskforce’s vision and the County’s broader equity and policy agenda:
• Providing ongoing support and advisement on the implementation of Equity Fund recommendations.
• Advancing a more comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to government resource allocation.
• Contributing to the development of key performance indicators and equity metrics to demonstrate the long-term impact of the underlying work and investments over time.
This report includes updates on three new initiatives launched in 2025, highlights and performance metrics from each recommendation’s year of work, and a financial summary of programmatic spending through the end of Fiscal Year 2025 and a budget plan for Fiscal Year 2026.
Impacted Members Initiative
Launched in May 2025, the Impacted Members Initiative was created to ensure that community voices, particularly those with lived experience, are meaningfully included in shaping the County’s equity work. Through this initiative, nine individuals from across Cook County were added to the Equity Fund Taskforce. These members participated in the Participatory Budgeting pilot and now attend quarterly Taskforce and Pillar Working Group meetings. They are compensated for their time in accordance with the Cook County Community Compensation Policy.
Participants were nominated by County Commissioners, bureaus and Taskforce members, then submitted applications outlining their interests, experiences, and goals for participating. An internal review team evaluated all applications and selected nine members to form the inaugural cohort.
These individuals continue to serve as integral contributors to the Taskforce’s work, and plans are underway to recruit a second cohort in early FY2026.
Participatory Budgeting Pilot
Cook County’s first Participatory Budgeting pilot, launched through the Equity Fund Taskforce, focused on programs funded by the Equity Fund. The initiative aimed to educate community stakeholders about the County budget process, elevate community voices in decision-making, and model an equity-informed approach to allocating public resources.
The pilot serves as a foundation for expanding community-led budgeting efforts across Cook County. A detailed report on the pilot’s outcomes, findings, and future planning will be released in early 2026.
Pillar Working Groups
The Equity Fund Pillar Working Groups were established in FY2025 to deepen engagement and collaboration among Taskforce members. Each of the six pillars under the Equity Fund (Healthy, Vital, Safe and Thriving, Connected, Sustainable, and Open) convenes quarterly meetings that bring together small groups of Taskforce members and County staff.
These meetings provide an informal and interactive space for dialogue, shared learning, and co-creation, helping to strengthen partnerships between community leaders and County departments in advancing the County’s equity goals.
Recommendation Updates
Healthy Communities
1.1 Adopt a Health Equity in All Policies (HEiAP) approach in policymaking to ensure Cook County government factors health considerations into its implementation of policies and programs and identifies gaps to improve health outcomes for all residents and communities.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: $507,540
Updates and Metrics: The Cook County Department of Public Health advanced its Health Equity in All Policies initiative by partnering with vendors to analyze municipal equity policies and create a framework for their evaluation based on the CDC’s five social determinants of health. By mid-2026, data from the project will be shared with partners to inform future policy initiatives. Building on a technical assistance grant, in 2026 the team will also develop and pilot a policy assessment tool and create a toolkit and technical assistance plan to support implementation.
1.2 Create a behavioral health administration to coordinate a comprehensive, accessible and culturally responsive continuum of behavioral health services for Cook County, including preventative services, recognizing the intersections between health, housing and justice involvement.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: Funding provided from other sources.
Updates and Metrics: The Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) released the first-ever Regional Behavioral Health Strategic Plan, a countywide blueprint to guide agencies in improving behavioral healthcare.Implementation of the plan will be supported through partnerships with 11 newly established Regional Behavioral Health Collaboratives. Other key accomplishments include: delivering services to thousands of residents, including through the awarding of $44M Stronger Together grants to 53 organizations on projects that serve the behavioral health needs of children, youth, and families; investing approximately $2 million to expand the NAMI Helpline as a “front door” to behavioral health care referrals through talk, text, and chat – the Helpline now receives more than 1,000 requests per month, a 76% increase compared to data from January 2025; adding nearly 60 permanent behavioral health staff to Cook County Health; developing plans for a Behavioral Health Workforce Apprenticeship Hub; and increasing access to naloxone across all CCH sites, Cook County courthouses, and five CTA stations, including the distribution of 15,665 naloxone kits and 203 boxes of fentanyl testing strips.
1.3 Develop a countywide Community Information Exchange (CIE) System to holistically address social drivers of health outcomes, deliver whole person care and better inform and drive more equitable allocation of resources to residents across Cook County.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: Funding provided from other sources
Updates and Metrics: The Community Information Exchange (CIE) technology vendor contract was finalized in March. The Illinois Public Health Institute (IPHI), who is the County’s partner leading the implementation of the CIE, began testing the system in July. 12 pilot agencies are actively engaged and working on consent and connectivity between their systems and the CIE. People with lived experience continue to be engaged, especially on consent. The CIE pilot is on track to launch in early 2026 and metrics will be developed at that time.
Vital Communities
2.1 Support collaborative efforts to reform Cook County’s property assessment and taxation system to promote equity and fairness and reduce the racial wealth gap.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: $1,034,579
Updates and Metrics: The Cook County Property Tax Reform Group has brought together all separately elected officials in the property tax system for the first time, meeting regularly since 2021 to drive collaborative, evidence-based reform. This partnership has led to shared ownership of policy solutions aimed at creating a fairer, more equitable system, particularly for historically disinvested communities disproportionately impacted by our current tax structure. The group’s research-driven approach is laying the groundwork for long-term structural improvements and increased public trust.
The Commercial Property Valuation Study advanced following a 2024 study on commercial valuation. The Reform Group’s consultant partner developed recommendations that the Board of Review and Assessor’s Office should undertake to create a more predictable, aligned system. The Reform Group oversees that transition process, alongside the original authors of the commercial valuation study.
The Exemptions and Incentives Studies also progressed. Working with Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) and University of Illinois-Chicago, the Reform Group produced two studies on the most used property tax tools: exemptions, which offer residential relief, and incentives, which entice business development and retainment in Cook County. In the 2025 Illinois General Assembly Veto Session, the Reform Group introduced and passed legislation that expanded other property tax relief tools (outside of exemptions). Near the end of 2025, the Reform Group and their partners will release their second study on the use of incentives and plan to engage the Board of Commissioners to institute the suggested policy changes outlined.
Finally, under Developing Performance Measures – Sales Ratio Study and Annual Report, the Reform Group has identified and selected a researcher to perform the first annual sales ratio study. This study will feed into an annual report, which will outline the performance of the property tax system and progress made on reforms.
2.2 Increase Cook County’s capacity to enforce Cook County’s fair housing laws to reduce unlawful housing discrimination and affirmatively further fair housing.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: Funding provided from other sources.
Updates and Metrics: In FY25, the Commission on Human Rights strengthened partnerships with fair housing organizations, engaged the public through numerous calls and emails related to its campaign, and further prepared this year’s public information efforts. To date, staff have conducted or participated in 69 trainings and community events, reaching 2,292 individuals, appeared on Teamwork Englewood’s podcast, mailed Just Housing Amendment resources to more than 240 nursing homes and Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Facilities, and fully updated the Commission Decisions database.
2.3 Build a more resilient housing and shelter system to provide dignified and reliable support to people experiencing homelessness in suburban Cook County, with the goal of achieving functional zero homelessness.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: Funding provided from other sources.
Updates and Metrics: The County has supported the development of 444 shelter beds in hotels and fixed-site shelter facilities since 2020. This model provides more dignified, successful care, as shown by the results. Hotel shelter facilities have served approximately 485 individuals experiencing homelessness, providing over 36,000 nights of shelter, and two fixed-site shelters supported by the County have served 185 individuals providing nearly 27,500 nights of shelter. Additionally, 72% percent of shelter residents have been able to transition into permanent housing. These shelter facilities have also included medical respite floors, essential to help residents in need of care recover. BED conducted an initial scan to assess the feasibility of establishing a Landlord Incentive and Mitigation Fund (LIMF). This LIMF would provide subsidies to landlords, incentivizing and encouraging them to rent to individuals and families facing housing hardships. This scan included peer review, an assessment of the Illinois legislative context, and an evaluation of potential services, identifying those with the greatest promise for implementation in Cook County. A LIMF could serve as an important tool to incentivize private landlords to rent to tenants with perceived barriers such as gaps in work history, justice involvement, prior evictions, or transitioning from shelter stays.
2.4 Increase Cook County resources to create new units of affordable housing across Cook County to promote housing stability and affordability.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: $600,000
Updates and Metrics: The focus of the Bureau’s efforts this year have been on housing stability, particularly through initiatives to help renters going through an eviction process. Since its launch in 2020, Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt (CCLAHD) has transformed the court system related to the eviction process to be fairer and more equitable, connecting more tenants to services and encouraging participation in their cases. While eviction filings have returned to pre-pandemic levels, default evictions are down to 20% (from 40-60% pre-pandemic), and sheriff enforced evictions have declined by 18%. Independent evaluations show that CCLAHD is highly cost-effective, costing about 50% less per client than New York’s program. CCLAHD has served over 100,000 residents and provided 78,000 free legal consultations since April 2022. The Early Resolution Program (ERP) has assisted 102,000 residents with 75,000 consultations on eviction and consumer debt.
2.5 Provide direct financial assistance to residents to sustain and preserve homeownership, to address the racial wealth gap and prevent continued displacement.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: Funding provided from other sources.
Updates and Metrics: BED was able to advance two initiatives related to affordable homeownership. The Modular Home program, which utilizes modular homes manufactured in Cook County and vacant lots obtained through the Cook County Land Bank, has completed six homes to date, and we expect up to an additional seven homes this year, with full ramp up at all three locations starting early next year. The Down Payment Assistance program provides subsidies of up to $25,000 or 5% of the home’s sale price, whichever is less, to homebuyers. To date in 2025, the program has helped 511 residents purchase a home via $7.1 million investment.
2.6 Continue championing government’s role in launching programs and policies that support residents’ economic security and increase economic mobility.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: Funding provided from other sources.
Updates and Metrics: The Cook County Promise Guaranteed Income Pilot completed its two-year run early in FY25. The pilot program provided $500 per month to 3,250 residents. The program is now completing its evaluation of benefits and impact to help determine the scope and scale of the next round of Guaranteed Income work. The Promise Pilot evaluation, being conducted by the University of Chicago’s Inclusive Economy Lab, is examining a range of outcomes, including housing, employment, financial security and physical and mental health. Initial evaluation results are expected in Spring 2026. BED has also convened a stakeholder advisory group to offer guidance on the study and the next phase of work.
2.7 Align Cook County’s workforce investments intentionally and strategically to support high quality jobs that promote residents’ economic mobility and equity.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: Funding provided from other sources.
Updates and Metrics: The Good Jobs Standards work began with the understanding that there is no single definition of a “good job,” but rather multiple factors that contribute to job quality, requiring a broader perspective. BED’s strategic plan reflects this by committing to defining and applying Good Jobs Standards to guide its programs and investments. The team has interviewed 29 stakeholders and drafted a framework for Good Job Standards. The team has crafted a definition and set of standards and has begun socializing the concept through presentations to the Economic Development Advisory Committee and the Equity Fund Taskforce.
The current Catalyst Grant program already incorporates these principles, requiring businesses to hire and source locally and provide professional development tied to new equipment or facilities. BED plans to convene an intradepartmental working group to deepen understanding of standards and explore integration across programs. Additionally, programs such as Manufacturing Reinvented are investing in industries that provide high quality jobs. In 2025, the program completed 353 projects, served 325 manufacturers, and awarded $4 million. Survey results show that 61% have improved their productivity, 48% have improved employee morale, 36% have experienced increased web traffic, 39% have increased sales, 33% have created new jobs.
2.8 Develop the small business and entrepreneurship ecosystem to promote prosperity.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: $1,000,000
Updates and Metrics: The Community Financial Institution (CFI) Capacity Building Grant Program serves not only as a capacity-building initiative but also as a direct access-to-capital strategy. By investing in the infrastructure and loan pools of CFIs, the County enables these institutions to deploy significantly more capital to small businesses. This approach strengthens non-profit lenders and expands equitable access to financing. The program’s $2.4 million investment is projected to generate approximately $17 million in loans for 170 small businesses across a wide range of industries. Five non-profit organizations were selected through a request-for-proposal (RFP) process to implement strategies aligned with their missions, supported by tailored training for CFIs. The Small Business Source is an essential resource for small businesses to receive tailored advisory services and build their network. To date in 2025, over 6,000 businesses received advising or participated in events through Business Support Organizations (BSOs), of which 85% were minority-owned, 64% were women-owned, and 85% were microbusinesses with fewer than 10 employees.
2.9 Pursue place-based investment through a community-centered approach to support a deeper and more sustainable commitment to implement locally desired community and economic development.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: $4,500,000
Updates and Metrics: Transforming Places is a pilot program focused on place-based, communitydriven, sustainable economic development in Cook County municipalities. BED focused on connecting Transforming Places networks with County and external resources aligned with their annual action plans. All five networks identified access to healthy, affordable food in their plans. In response, BED partnered with the Department of Environment and Sustainability and Cook County Department of Public Health to host a Food Access and Equity Symposium, bringing together network representatives and industry leaders to share best practices and innovative strategies. 179 stakeholders are actively engaged across the networks, leveraging more than $800,000 in grants and in-kind support. Three of the networks received Creative Placemaking grants to develop community art projects. The County continues to collaborate with the networks to build partnerships and expand resource access, recognizing that most place-based initiatives require seven to nine years to achieve sustainability.
2.10 Strengthen and enforce Cook County’s worker protection laws to ensure all workers receive fair compensation and protection from violations.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: $787,500
Updates and Metrics: This past quarter the Healthy Workers Initiative’s governance team (Stewardship Council made up of 18+ partners from regional academic, community, and government entities) convened, reaffirmed HWI’s progress, calibrated strategic direction, and established a dynamic plan for the coming quarter. In addition, HWI has established three working groups that coordinate and carry out activities to support HWI’s enforcement strategy. 237,094 workers were reached, educated, or trained on worker health and safety and labor rights as of August of 2025.
Safe and Thriving Communities
3.1 Improve interagency data-sharing and public access to deidentified and disaggregated criminal legal system data to increase transparency and usefulness, with specific attention on data that identifies racial and ethnic disparities and operational challenges that contribute to barriers and collateral consequences for those impacted by the criminal legal system.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: Funding provided from other sources.
Updates and Metrics: After seven years of development, the Justice Advisory Council, in partnership with Loyola University Chicago, launched the Cook County Criminal Justice Dashboard. The dashboard is a comprehensive, public-facing platform presenting key data on the county’s criminal legal system. The website is designed to enhance transparency, accessibility, and understanding of local justice system operations and outcomes.
3.2 Develop a comprehensive and coordinated countywide re-entry plan that works to support residents returning to their communities from detention, jail, and prison by removing structural barriers to housing, economic security, and opportunity, including the negative impacts of criminal and juvenile records.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: Funding provided from other sources.
Updates and Metrics: The Justice Advisory Council’s Reconnect Program – Rental Assistance and Wraparound Services for Returning Residents has successfully provided stable housing for 116 families to date and is on track to deliver rental assistance to 150 households by the conclusion of the ARPA funding period in 2026, strengthening reentry outcomes and promoting long-term community stability. Over 94% of participants have remained free of new criminal activity while in the program and over $12 million have been committed to the program.
3.3 Support community-informed alternatives to policing in suburban Cook County to minimize harmful interactions between police and residents, especially Black residents, and promote community safety.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: Funding provided from other sources
Updates and Metrics: SEED is a 13-month pre-plea deferred-prosecution program, which aims to serve emerging adults, aged 18-26, charged with Delivery or Intent to Deliver in Cook County, Illinois. This evaluation will gauge its process and impact. Outcomes and Impact evaluation of the Supporting Employment and Education Development (SEED) program, created for individuals charged with felony drug distribution. The program has consistently been at 80% or more of its 100-person active caseload capacity since its inception. It has 223 total graduates, with 86 in the past year.
Connected Communities
4.1 Increase access to and availability and affordability of public transportation to connect communities and ensure transit equity.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: $2,349,800
Updates and Metrics: The Access Reduced Fare Pilot Program expands affordable transportation options for low-income residents across the six-county RTA region by offering reduced fares on all Metra lines and zones to individuals enrolled in SNAP. Funded jointly by the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways, RTA, and Metra, the program enhances transit affordability while increasing ridership among individuals who might not otherwise use Metra. In 2025, the program served nearly 7,000 participants and supported an average of 13,000 rides per month, with participants reporting that they are driving less and taking public transit more since enrolling.
4.2 Increase digital connectivity and access to broadband infrastructure and digital devices for residents, particularly in historically disinvested communities.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: $850,000
Updates and Metrics: In May 2025, the Cook County Board of Commissioners approved $850,000 to launch a Digital Navigator Network in partnership with Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) and the Digital Equity team in the Office of the Cook County Board President. This initiative will expand digital equity efforts across suburban Cook County by equipping public libraries to serve as local hubs for digital skills training, connectivity support, and device access. The project advances the goals of Cook County’s Digital Equity Action Plan and the Equity Fund, focusing on building lasting infrastructure and addressing disparities in disinvested communities. Additionally, the Digital Equity team convened government, non-profit, education, technology, library, business, and media partners at the inaugural digital equity learning symposium titled Access Amplified: Building a Digitally Inclusive Cook County to share best practices, celebrate local leadership, and continue building momentum for a more connected and inclusive digital future.
Sustainable Communities
5.1 Invest in climate-resilient infrastructure to address decades of disinvestment in the South and West sides.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: $2,083,425
Updates and Metrics: Cook County understands the important role trees play in ensuring communities are climatically resilient and their residents are healthy and thriving. Trees are considered a critical component of urban infrastructure due to their multifaceted benefits, such as absorbing precipitation and helping to prevent flooding. Trees also reduce energy costs by providing shade and cooling buildings, reducing the overall heat island effect. Despite challenges in procuring a contractor to manage the Trees Initiative, a contract is scheduled for Board approval in November 2025, with municipal outreach for Tree Grant applications beginning in early 2026. The program will select up to 5 municipalities for participation, with tree planting planned for later in the year.
Additionally, five communities—Bellwood, Franklin Park, Justice, Lynwood, and Markham—have completed Phase I (Planning) of the Climate Resiliency Program and are now advancing to Phase II (Implementation).
5.2 Establish a Cook County Environmental Justice Policy to incorporate environmental and equity impacts in policy and program decision-making.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: Funding provided by other sources.
Updates and Metrics: In 2025, the Department of Environment and Sustainability (DES) released a public draft of the County’s first Environmental Justice (EJ) Policy, co-developed by an internal working group and the EJ Community Advisory Committee. The Department hosted several town halls and accepted public comments through February, after which the draft was updated based on feedback and is being advanced to the Board of Commissioners before the end 2025. Funding allocated in 2025 through the Department’s corporate budget will support two new full-time EJ positions, expected to be filled by the start of FY26.
5.3 Support actions that improve both public health and environmental health for the overall well-being of residents, particularly in disinvested communities.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: Funding provided through other sources.
Updates and Metrics: County’s Department of Environment and Sustainability and The Recycling Partnership provided funding to suburban Cook municipalities for waste diversion programs and projects like curbside residential recycling services. Recycling services began in spring 2025. Since 2022, our Brownfields program remediated 80 sites resulting in 475 acres being prepared for re-use. Additionally, the Forest Preserves acquired over 150 acres through the Southeast Land Acquisition Plan.
Open Communities
6.1 Develop a comprehensive equity-centered grantmaking strategy to promote equitable access to resources and increase capacity to deliver services in partnership with smaller, grassroots, emerging, and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color-led organizations anchored in marginalized communities.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: $28,080,534
Updates and Metrics: The Equity in Grant-Making initiative is transforming Cook County’s funding ecosystem by prioritizing transparency, inclusion, and greater service impact. In partnership with the Government Alliance for Safe Communities and Think. Plan. Do. Consulting, LLC, the initiative achieved key FY25 milestones, including literature reviews, department interviews, and workshops. In September 2025, the Board approved an intergovernmental agreement allocating $5 million to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, which selected UCAN to administer the Capacity Building Network and connect community-based organizations with culturally and geographically competent experts for support beyond grant compliance. Final deliverables and an implementation plan for the County to advance more equitable practices in its grant-making, are expected in early FY26.
6.2 Establish flexible, accessible, and empowering pathways for residents of historically disinvested or marginalized communities to meaningfully participate in developing and implementing County policies and programs.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: $548,931
Updates and Metrics: In June of 2025, the Community Engagement team began drafting the County’s first community engagement strategy. With the help of over 30 OUP staff and an external consultant, the team convened to collaborate, reflect and review the current state of community engagement practices in Cook County. Once completed, the community engagement strategy will help standardize and support current community engagement processes as well as outline and define the Community Engagement goals of the County. The Community Engagement team hopes to release the strategy to the public by early 2026.
6.3 Implement countywide best practices to measure the impact of policies and programs on immigrant and refugee communities to ensure Cook County’s work to reduce racial and ethnic inequities is inclusive and actively works to protect immigrants and refugees.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: Funding provided through other sources.
Updates and Metrics: The Equity Landscape Review was completed and published in June 2025 and is available on the Commission on Human Rights Reports & Guidance Documents webpage. The Commission on Human Rights shared the Report internally, including hosting an educational panel for employees. Additionally, focus on updating public resources for non-English speakers on the County’s Immigration Website has led to an increase in website traffic from approximately 300 hits in 2024, to well over 3,000 hits as of October 2025.
Additional Complementary Recommendations
Community Violence Intervention Grants: To provide services to residents at risk of being involved in gun violence, including street outreach intervention, case management and victim services; this is apart of the Government Alliance for Safe Communities (GASC) collaborative investment strategy.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: $20,000,000
Updates and Metrics: For FY25, the County’s Community Violence Intervention (CVI) commitment included two-year awards to eighteen organizations. The full two-year allocation totals $20 million, which supports CVI efforts broadly, including street outreach programming. Through both these new awards and the JAC’s pre-existing CVI grantees, the County reached 12,805 individuals through case management services, street outreach, and victim services. They carried out 8,586 mediations.
In addition to these awards, a portion of the Starting Block Grants was directed toward capacity-building for smaller organizations doing work in violence prevention. These grants were designed to provide general operating support and help organizations strengthen their infrastructure so they could be more competitive for future funding opportunities. While these grants were not specific to violence prevention, they had historically been supported in part by the Equity Fund; however, in FY25 they were funded entirely through the Equity Fund. The County also continued its violence-prevention capacity-building investments through supporting the state of Illinois’ Institute to Innovate (i2i) program.
Additional support was provided to organizations serving survivors of gun violence. These grants funded wraparound services and were structured as two-year agreements. The City of Chicago portion of the funding was awarded in FY25, while the suburban allocation was set to be released in FY26.
Finally, the County advanced its Returning Residents initiatives through the “No Place to Stay” program, which provides housing to individuals involved in the criminal legal system who were acutely unhoused. Through service providers, the Justice Advisory Council made available over 200 housing placements and served over 600 individuals per year.
Cook County Land Bank Authority: Cook County Land Bank will continue working to increase naturally occurring affordable housing stock and economic opportunity in disinvested communities within Cook County.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: $4,663,717
Updates and Metrics: In 2025, The Cook County Land Bank Authority committed $960,000 in Equity Fund dollars for its purchase assistance program and has successfully awarded over 49 homeowners 6% in purchase assistance funds up to $20,000 totaling $795,000 to date. The Land Bank has also partnered with Inherent L3C and the Bureau of Economic Development to develop 11 modular homes and has committed an additional $500,000 towards providing purchase assistance for those buyers to increase homeownership and affordability.
Cannabis Business Development Program: Establish a Cannabis Business Development Program to create a revolving fund to support grants cannabis-related businesses owned and operated by Social Equity Applicants who reside in Cook County, recognizing the link between the Equity Fund and cannabis tax revenue and the related history of incarceration and exclusion communities of color have faced.
FY25 Funding from Equity Fund: $1,629,543
Updates and Metrics: The Cook County Cannabis Development Grant Program supports social equitylicensed cannabis businesses through grants and technical assistance. Since launching in May 2024, the County has awarded $3.6 million to 40 businesses and authorized up to $1.5 million more in April 2025 to fund additional grants and launch a technical assistance program offering education and training for cannabis operators. Applications for the first technical assistance cohort are open, with a second cohort planned for early 2026.
Based on preliminary responses to an impact survey, businesses most frequently report utilizing grants to directly support rent or mortgage expenses, facilities (furniture, fixtures, equipment), regulatory expenses and professional services. Businesses described the grant as a “critical lifeline”, supporting expansion into a new, and subsequently successful product line and helping to attract additional investors.
Forty-two percent of respondents are operating and 32% are preparing to open their business. In aggregate, 29 new jobs were created and 34 have been retained. 87% of respondents reported that this program has been “Extremely Helpful” to their business.