The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has awarded over $1.8 million in federal funding for Community Development Block Grants in the 95th State Representative District.

According to Representative Avery Bourne, four communities in the district will receive funding, including two in Montgomery County. The City of Hillsboro will receive $370,000 for the rehabilitation of nine homes, with Audubon Township receiving $500,000 for water distribution improvements. Morrisonville and Mt. Olive were the other municipalities awarded grants, with Morrisonville receiving $500,000 for sanitary sewer improvements and Mt. Olive receiving $450,000 for the rehabilitation of twelve homes.

Bourne said the DCEO received 62 public infrastructure grant applications from Illinois communities. The grants are designated to improve public infrastructure and eliminate conditions detrimental to public health, safety and welfare with an emphasis on assisting communities with substantial low to moderate-income populations.

The DCEO estimates that the block grant funding will attract an additional $820,000 in private sector investment in the Hillsboro and Mt. Olive communities, and $1 million in Morrisonville and Audubon Township.