Overview - 100+ Completed Projects in 5 Years
Over the past five years, CILBA has worked with 22 member communities to build capacity to successfully address abandonment, vacancy, and substandard housing in central Illinois. Since 2020, we have:
- Raised over $3 Million for revitalization work in member communities – completing 100+ projects.
- Completed 50+ rehabs in Decatur alone. Built rehab programs from scratch in Decatur and Champaign County utilizing $2.28 Million in IHDA/ARPA grants
- Created a foundation for anti-blight work by assisting one-third of members communities in adopting International Property Maintenance Code and hiring a shared code enforcement officer.
- Completed 50+ demolitions in Vermilion County. Fundraised $1.25 Mill to demolish unsafe, abandoned homes in Vermilion County, Paxton, and Macon County. $900k+ spent in Vermilion County across seven different IHDA grants.
Using Data to Leverage Grant Funding
With support from the Illinois Housing Development Authority, Teska Associates conducted a Housing Market Analysis and Feasibility Study for CILBA. The report highlighted some glaring revitalization challenges. For example, the statewide vacancy rate is 6%. For Vermilion County, the vacancy rate is double compared to the state and for Decatur the rate is 15%. While the high proportion of vacant properties poses a challenge for CILBA’s revitalization efforts, the goal is to utilize a data driven framework to bring in grant funds for member communities.
CILBA’s work is driven by member communities. Members select priorities from the land bank’s Menu of Options, provide project lists they’d like to pursue, and then raise grant funds to do priority projects.
Demolitions
CILBA has raised $1.25 Mill over 8 different IHDA Strong Communities grants to tackle blight since 2020. Over 50 demolitions have been completed in Vermilion County, 5 in Paxton and CILBA anticipates doing 20 Macon County demolitions in 2025.
CILBA has mapped all demolitions to date in Vermilion County and Paxton to illustrate impact: Vermilion County and Paxton Map
The slideshow below highlights the impact made with blighted properties.
- IHDA Abandoned Property Program 3: $10k for demolition in Danville. Property was demolition candidate donated by a bank. Funds fully spent.
- IHDA Strong Communities Program Round 1: $125K for demolitions throughout Vermilion County. Funds fully spent.
- IHDA Strong Communities Program Round 1 Hoopeston: $125k for demolitions in Hoopeston. Matched by $50k from City and $100k by Hoopeston Retirement Village Foundation.
- IHDA Strong Communities Program Round 1.5 Westville: $45k for Westville demolitions.
- IHDA Strong Communities Program Round 1.5 Rankin: $45k for Rankin Demolitions.
- IHDA Strong Communities Program Round 1.5 Georgetown: $45k for Georgetown demolitions.
- IHDA Strong Communities Program Round 1.5 Ridge Farm: $45k for Ridge Farm demolitions.
- IHDA Strong Communities Program Round 2: $337k for demolitions in Georgetown, Oakwood, Paxton, Ridge Farm, and Westville.
- IHDA Strong Communities Program Round 2: $337k for Macon County demolitions.
- IHDA Strong Communities Program Round 2: $337k for Macon County demolitions.
- City of Decatur: $775K ARPA matching funds for “Abandonment to Rehab”
- IHDA Home Rehab and Accessibility Program: $400k for Decatur roof rehab program.
- City of Decatur: $400k ARPA matching funds for Decatur roof rehab program.
- Champaign County: $375k ARPA funds for rural rehab program.
Rehabs
Along with demolitions, rehabilitation of existing housing is an important tool for keeping housing out of the cycle of disrepair and for maintaining the health and safety of its occupants.
CILBA has mapped the 50+ rehabs conducted over the last two years in Decatur to illustrate impact:
- Decatur’s Abandonment to Rehab Program – CILBA developed a “Abandonment to Rehab” program in partnership with the City of Decatur to spur investment, create first time homeownership opportunities, and develop a suite of tools to address the housing needs of downstate Illinois. The first five projects were completed/sold and three more gut rehab projects are being completed Q1 2025. The City provided $750k ARPA funding and $337k from IHDA Strong Communities. All sales proceeds are recycled for the next round of gut rehabs.
- City of Decatur Roof Repair Program – CILBA completed over 40 roof projects in two years utilizing through $400k of IHDA HRAP funds and $400k of Decatur ARPA dollars.
- Champaign County Homeowner Occupied Rehabs – completed 12 rural, homeowner occupied rehabs addressing exterior repair needs. Funded through $375k of County ARPA dollars.
The slideshow below highlights completed “Abandonment to Rehab” projects