Underwood Announces More Than $30 Million for Local Priorities Selected for Community Project Funding
JOLIET – Today, Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced the projects in the 14th District submitted for consideration for Community Project Funding in FY2027.
If funded, the projects below will have extraordinary benefits for our community: ensuring access to safe and reliable drinking water, strengthening rural access to health care, helping residents get good jobs, providing vulnerable populations access to necessities like emergency shelter and food, and making public transit stronger in northern Illinois.
“Making sure that our community's needs are reflected in federal funding has always been a top priority of mine in Washington,” said Underwood. “Our families will feel the enormous impact of these 20 projects every day. We’re making sure our drinking water is clean and safe across northern Illinois, strengthening access to quality health care in rural communities, improving our public transit systems, and so much more. I look forward to working with my colleagues to bring these federal dollars home.”
Underwood recently secured $13 million in Community Project Funding in FY 2026, and has secured more than $53 million in Community Project Funding for IL-14 since 2021.
Community Project Funding is an initiative that allows Members of Congress to directly request federal funding for projects that benefit the communities they represent, coupled with strict transparency and ethics requirements. Projects are restricted to a limited number of federal funding streams, and only state and local governments and eligible non-profit entities are permitted to receive funding. In compliance with House Rules and Committee requirements, Underwood has certified that she and her immediate family have no financial interest in any of the projects selected. Underwood’s certification forms for the projects listed are available here, listed in alphabetical order.
Below are descriptions of the projects submitted for consideration, in alphabetical order by project sponsor:
Project Title: DeKalb Metra Rail Extension Preparation
Project Sponsor: City of DeKalb Transit
Amount Requested: $1,200,000
Project: This funding would be used to advance the extension of Metra commuter rail service along the Union Pacific West Line between Elburn and DeKalb, Illinois. The funding will help the City of Dekalb prepare its regional rail and corridor service development plans, and help fund environmental analyses for the extension. DeKalb is a major employment and education hub for our community, anchored by Northern Illinois Univeristy (NIU). NIU is the only Illinois public university without passenger rail access, and DeKalb has been without passenger rail service since 1971.
Project Title: Grand Prairie Water Commission Alternative Water Source Program Regional Transmission Main (Segment B) Project
Project Sponsor: City of Joliet
Amount Requested: $5,000,000
Address of Sponsor: 150 W Jefferson St, Joliet, IL 60432
Project Description and Justification: This funding would be used to construct water pipes to deliver treated Lake Michigan water to communities served by the Grand Prairie Water Commission. The new pipes will extend and connect to two water delivery structures in Joliet, and provide a safe and sustainable water supply for residents in Joliet, Crest Hill, Channahon, Minooka, Romeoville, and Shorewood.
Project Title: The Mendota Civic Center Revitalization
Project Sponsor: City of Mendota
Amount Requested: $253,000
Address of Sponsor: 800 Washington Street, Mendota, IL, 61342
Project Description and Justification: This funding would be used to modernize the Mendota Civic Center, a 17,000 square-foot building that serves as the main community gathering space for Mendota and surrounding rural communities. The Civic Center houses Mendota Area Senior Services, hosts monthly youth programs, and offers affordable meeting and event space for local businesses, nonprofits, and civic organizations. This project would fund badly needed HVAC upgrades, ADA improvements, and the replacement of carpeting, bathroom fixtures, ceiling tiles, and outdated equipment to make sure the community center remains a pillar of our community.
Project Title: City of Ottawa Public Transit Fleet Replacement
Project Sponsor: City of Ottawa
Amount Requested: $720,000
Address of Sponsor: 301 W Madison St, Ottawa, IL, 61350
Project Description and Justification: This funding would be used to purchase new vehicles for the North Central Area Transit (NCAT) system’s aging fleet. NCAT’s rural transit system serves seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and the general public throughout LaSalle County. Nearly half of NCAT’s vehicles have exceeded their operational lifespan, making it more difficult for residents to use the system to get to work, school, medical appointments, and access essential services. This project would purchase five buses to replace aging vehicles and expand NCAT’s service hours, coverage, and ability to deliver reliable and accessible public transit for our community.
Project Title: Spring Valley Water Main Extension and Connection
Project Sponsor: City of Spring Valley
Amount Requested: $522,500
Address of Sponsor: 215 N. Greenwood Street Spring Valley, IL 61362
Project Description and Justification: This funding would be used to replace and construct new water infrastructure between the City of Spring Valley and the City of Peru’s. Spring Valley uses a single water source, a critical vulnerability that threatens access to clean, safe water for families in northern Illinois. This project will make sure Spring Valley has a redundant and secure source of water during emergencies and allow more flexibility for maintenance and repairs, ensuring our community has uninterrupted access to safe drinking water.
Project Title: Enhancing Law Enforcement Effectiveness in Protecting Victims of Domestic Violence
Project Sponsor: Guardian Angel Community Services
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Address of Sponsor: 168 N Ottawa St, Joliet, IL 60432
Project Description and Justification: This funding would be used to support the operations of Guardian Angel Community Services, a critical organization in our community that supports survivors of domestic violence. The project will provide housing assistance and basic supplies for survivors, salaries and benefits for staff, program materials, training, resource development, and help with travel and administrative costs.
Project Title: The Hall Township Food Security & Affordability Infrastructure Project
Project Sponsor: Hall Township
Amount Requested: $750,000
Address of Sponsor: 108 Wolfer Drive, Spring Valley, IL, 61362
Project Description and Justification: This funding would be used to renovate and repurpose an empty salt shed building in Spring Valley into a permanent food storage and distribution facility for the Hall Township Food Pantry, which serves residents across Bureau County. The project will allow the pantry to replace the building’s roof, lay a new food-safe floor, install new LED lighting, and put in an overhead garage door and ADA-accessible entrance. This investment directly increases the availability of healthy food for seniors and working families in our community.
Project Title: Joliet Junior College Public Safety Institute
Project Sponsor: Joliet Junior College
Amount Requested: $2,000,000
Address of Sponsor: 1215 Houbolt Rd, Joliet, IL 60431
Project Description and Justification: This funding would be used by Joliet Junior College (JJC) to create a regional hub to train fire service, law enforcement, and emergency medical professionals in our community. The project will allow JJC to renovate existing space on their main campus for new training academies and expand their existing EMR and EMT programs. This funding would support the purchase of fire training equipment such as self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) packs, fill stations, live burn props, forcible entry simulators, and rescue mannequins. Additionally this funding would support the purchase of EMS training tools like advanced medical simulators and transport equipment. It also would provide funding for the purchase of law enforcement training resources like forensic equipment, body camera systems, defensive tactics gear, and virtual simulation systems to support learning objectives including deescalation training and crisis intervention training.
Project Title: Phase 3 Fairmont Stormwater System Rehabilitation Project
Project Sponsor: Lockport Township
Amount Requested: $1,334,500
Address of Sponsor: 1463 Farrell Road, Lockport, IL 60441
Project Description and Justification: This funding would be used to upgrade and replace critical stormwater infrastructure in our community in Fairmont. The project will replace failing ditch and culvert stormwater drainage with buried, reinforced concrete pipe and lay a new sidewalk to improve safety for families. This project addresses longstanding infrastructure needs in Fairmont and will help reduce flood-related property damage.
Project Title: Oswego School District Student Success & Workforce Development Project
Project Sponsor: Oswego Community Unit School District 308
Amount Requested: $3,081,449
Address of Sponsor: 4175 Route 71, Oswego, IL, 60543
Project Description and Justification: This funding would be used to renovate the Oswego school district’s multipurpose building to convert underutilized office space into specialized classrooms for students with disabilities. The project makes mechanical, electrical, and plumbing upgrades and reconfigures walls, doors, finishes, flooring, and lighting. The renovated spaces will include a mock apartment with laundry and kitchen facilities, a working café, and a retail storefront to teach job and independent living skills for young adults with disabilities.
Project Title: Electric Buses for Pace’s Southeast Aurora On Demand Service
Project Sponsor: Pace Bus
Amount Requested: $800,000
Address of Sponsor: 550 W. Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights, IL, 60005
Project Description and Justification: This funding would be used to purchase two battery-powered buses for Pace’s Southeast Aurora On Demand service. These buses will replace aging, gas-powered buses and help advance Pace's commitment to converting their fleet to zero-emissions vehicles. Electric buses operating this route will reduce emissions for families living in Aurora and lower fuel and maintenance costs.
Project Title: Improving Rural Health Rapid Response in Putnam County
Project Sponsor: Putnam County Board
Amount Requested: $281,250
Address of Sponsor: 120 N. 4th Street, Hennepin, IL 61327
Project Description and Justification: This funding would be used to purchase an equipped ambulance for Putnam County Emergency Medical Services. Putnam County EMS is the only ambulance serving over 250 road miles of road in our community, covering ethanol and machining plants, farms, and residences. Their current EMS fleet is aging, with the oldest vehicle, a 2001 model, exceeding 150,000 miles. The project will help Putnam County upgrade their fleet with a new ambulance with up-to-date medical and communications technology that meets modern standards of care for our families.
Project Title: Flewellin Memorial Library Renovation and Modernization
Project Sponsor: Shabbona Township
Amount Requested: $1,778,762
Address of Sponsor: 204 S. Pontiac St, Shabbona, IL 60550
Project Description and Justification: This funding would be used by Shabbona Township to renovate and modernize the Flewellin Memorial Library. The project will upgrade their aging building, making it a safe, accessible, energy-efficient community hub that supports education, literacy, and community engagement for residents.
Project Title: Somonauk Fire Protection District: Critical Life Safety Equipment Replacement
Project Sponsor: Somonauk Fire Protection District
Amount Requested: $474,000
Address of Sponsor: 145 W. DeKalb Street, Somonauk, IL, 60552
Project Description and Justification: This funding would be used to upgrade and replace critical, life-safety equipment for the Somonauk Fire Protection District. The fire department’s current inventory of SCBAs has reached the end of its certified service life and is currently out of compliance with current standards. The project will replace the safety equipment and make sure first responders can safely respond to the full range of emergency calls in their rural service area.
Project Title: Sugar Grove Fire Community Training Facility
Project Sponsor: Sugar Grove Fire Protection District
Amount Requested: $2,000,000
Address of Sponsor: 25 S Municipal Dr, Sugar Grove, IL 60554
Project Description and Justification: This funding would be used to construct a regional Fire Training Complex for the Sugar Grove Fire Protection District. The new facility will include dedicated classrooms and specialized training areas for Auto Extrication, Aircraft Rescue, Water and Ice Rescue, Driver Training, and more, along with secure equipment storage. The new complex will serve both the fire district and Waubonsee Community College's Fire Science Technology Program.
Project Title: The Preston Heights Health & Economic Opportunity Kitchen in Joliet, Illinois
Project Sponsor: Will County
Amount Requested: $285,000
Address of Sponsor: 302 N. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432
Project Description and Justification: This funding would be used to construct a commercial kitchen facility at the Labor of Love Community Garden in Preston Heights near Joliet. The new facility will serve as a public community resource for food education, food safety certification, job training, and small business incubation for members of our community. The project will allow Labor of Love to expand their STEAM Summer Program and Healthy Eating Active Living sessions by creating a safe, hands-on environment for their programming.
Project Title: Village of Plainfield Environmental Infrastructure Program (Village of Plainfield)
Project Sponsor: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District
Amount Requested: $2,000,000
Address of Sponsor: 24401 W. Lockport Street, Plainfield, IL, 60544
Project Description and Justification: This funding would be used to construct new water infrastructure in Plainfield to help our community receive potable water from Lake Michigan. Plainfield is one of the fastest growing communities in Will County and the State of the Illinois, and current demand for water is routinely exhausting our community’s capacity to serve residents. The project will construct a second storage tank for Lake Michigan water and make sure our water supply is reliable, safe, and clean.
Project Title: Village of North Utica Church Street Water Main Replacement Project
Project Sponsor: Village of North Utica
Amount Requested: $1,636,000
Address of Sponsor: 248 W Canal Street, North Utica, IL 61373
Project Description and Justification: This funding would be used to replace aging water infrastructure along Church Street in Utica, including over 150-year-old lead pipes that pose significant public health risks. The project includes replacing water pipes, removing and upgrading lead service lines connecting to homes and businesses, restoring impacted properties, and resurfacing Church Street.
Project Title: Phase 2 of the Lake Michigan Water Source Receiving Stations Project
Project Sponsor: Village of Oswego
Amount Requested: $2,640,000
Address of Sponsor: 100 Parkers Mill, Oswego, IL 60543
Project Description and Justification: This funding would be used to construct new water infrastructure in our communities in Montgomery, Oswego, and Yorkville and ensure we have a sustainable drinking water supply. The project will support Montgomery, Oswego, and Yorkville’s connection to the DuPage Water Commission system and their transition to Lake Michigan as our water source.
Project Title: Wheatland Township Senior Center
Project Sponsor: Wheatland Township
Amount Requested: $3,000,000
Address of Sponsor: 4232 Tower Court, Naperville, IL, 60564
Project Description and Justification: This funding would be used to construct a new facility to host senior services, community programming, and food services to serve our rapidly growing community. The new facility will include a multipurpose room, a commercial kitchen and a pantry to support senior meals and community food services. The new facility will provide a permanent home for senior programming that currently lacks dedicated space as well, creating an accessible, ADA-compliant facility that will serve as a community anchor.
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