The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has made a tremendous impact on existing CSBG programs

CSBG Income-eligibility Guidelines—Under ARRA, income-eligibility guidelines increased from 125% to 200% of the federal poverty level. This significant change means that an increased number of individuals, families and households will be able to receive CSBG services.

Small Business Loans Program—ARRA has changed funding requirements for small business owners, making it more feasible for small businesses to gain access to capital. Under ARRA, loans provided to businesses through the Small Business Loans Program may not exceed 61% of the total cost of financing needs—up from 49%.  Additionally, for every $25,000 awarded (Up from $20,000) a new job must be created and filled by an income-eligible resident of Cook County.

Vocational Scholarships— Provides one-time grants of up to $5000 to non-students for job placement and training programs. This pogram helps to prepare individuals who are interested in specialized trades and seek to enter the workforce.

Relief for Seniors and the Disabled—Provides up to $300 per person in direct client assistance for seniors and persons living with disabilities. Funds are used to help clients purchase necessities such as eyewear, medical supplies and other items that are essential to maintaining daily activities.

Veterans Benefit Enrollment Program—In partnership with the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Benefit Enrollment Program provides direct client assistance to income-eligible veterans. Funds from ARRA increase the capacity of the program to conduct more outreach and client referrals, which increases veteran enrollment.

Comprehensive Housing Program—Provides counseling and mortgage assistance to homeowners who are delinquent and/or at risk of losing their home. Under ARRA, homeowners may receive up to $6000 in mortgage assistance—up from $1000. Additionally, ARRA guidelines allow homeowners to be up to six (6) months delinquent, up from the previous provision that allowed two (2) months delinquency.

Residential Energy Assistance Challenge (REACH)—ARRA funds extend the REACH program for another year to assist the most in-need families avoid utility disconnection or reconnect services. Clients that successfully complete the REACH program and make a payment toward their delinquent utility bill may receive up to a $500 stipend payable toward client’s utility bill.

Summer Feeding Program—Funds from ARRA are used for general program and staff support.

Adult and Dislocated Workers Program—Stimulus funding enables CEDA to more than double the number of underserved and unemployed persons that can receive job training and job placement assistance. Under ARRA, approximately 150 clients will receive training in the areas of hospitality, customer service, green renovation, and other areas.

ARRA has created new job opportunities at CEDA to support CSBG programs

To support the increased demand for CSBG services, funds from ARRA are used to facilitate staffing needs that allow CEDA to maintain quality client service. As a result, nearly 20 new jobs have been created at CEDA in the areas of program support, counseling, supervision, and field workers.

ARRA Improves Head Start & Early Head Start Programming and Operational Capacity

Funding from ARRA expands Head Start and Early Head Start services to reach an additional 192 income-eligible families. These funds also support three areas of CEDA Head Start, which enables comprehensive improvements to programming and operational output.  These areas of support are outlined below:

Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Equips Staff with Financial Security

• All staff and delegate agencies of Head Start will receive a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase in FY 2009.

• COLA is used to increase pay to help manage higher operating costs and increase staff salaries and fringe benefits

• Competitive pay allows CEDA to retain and recruit qualified teachers and other educational personnel

Quality Improvement Closes Educational Gap for Underserved Families

• Funds from ARRA will be allocated for Quality Improvement (QI), for the purposes of employee training, compensation and professional development. Head Start uses QI to attract and retain qualified staff to maintain results driven programs;

• provide education and professional development that enable teachers to meet established professional standards;

• train teachers to become certified and/or licensed bilingual educators;

• improve the qualifications and skills of educational personnel to teach and provide services to children with disabilities;

• employing additional qualified classroom staff to reduce the child-to-teacher ratio in the classroom and additional qualified family service workers to reduce the family-to-staff ratio for those workers ensuring that Head Start programs have qualified staff that promote the language skills and literacy growth of children

CEDA is preparing more individuals to enter specialized trades as a result of stimulus funding

• CEDA expects to enroll 100 WIA clients into apprenticeship and customized training programs by April, 2011. These programs help place individuals on career paths in industries that include construction, deconstruction and painting, among others.

• Approximately 200 openings are available for on-the-job- training programs that allow clients to receive hands-on work experience at competitive wages.

• Funding from ARRA also provides program support in the areas of employment counseling and basic skills testing.