ICJIA Awards $35 Million in Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Program Grants

ICJIA Awards $35 Million in Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Program Grants

Press Release - Thursday, August 29, 2024

Funds will support local organizations with smaller budgets in communities heavily affected by violence, criminal justice system overuse, and economic deprivation

CHICAGO- Using revenue from adult-use, recreational cannabis sales, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) today announced $35 million in grants to support 88 programs run by local organizations across the state

"Illinois created the most equity-centric cannabis program in the nation and the R3 program is a fundamental component of our state's legalization framework," said Governor JB Pritzker. "By funding smaller community organizations in areas harmed by years of disinvestment and excessive incarceration, we are taking enormous strides toward justice and expanding opportunities for all."

The grants are part of the Restore, Reinvest, Renew (R3) Program, a key equity element of the 2019 Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. The law requires 25% of adult-use cannabis tax revenue to support communities harmed by decades of economic disinvestment, violence, and the severe and disproportionate damage caused by the war on drugs. These issues largely impact low-income Illinoisans and communities of color. To date, ICJIA has awarded more than $244 million in R3 program grants.

"For too long, communities have suffered from systemic injustice and a criminal legal system that unfairly targets marginalized groups," said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. "Illinois' equity-focused cannabis reform is a key step in addressing these issues. The R3 program not only provides funding but also empowers local organizations to create safer, stronger communities, giving every Illinoisan the chance to truly thrive."

Grants were awarded to organizations that serve residents of designated eligible R3 zones. The R3 program empowers nonprofits, small businesses, and faith-based organizations to repair harm and build safer communities.

ICJIA received 574 completed applications, which were reviewed by community residents and other stakeholders. Before receiving applications, all reviewers underwent implicit bias training and application review training.

Funded programs will offer evidence-based, promising, or innovative service strategies within the R3 Program Priority Areas of civil legal aid, economic development, community re-entry from the criminal justice system, violence prevention, and youth development.

ICJIA's Institute to Innovate (i2i) builds capacity within smaller organizations to manage grant funding.

"Capacity building is the key to equity," said ICJIA Executive Director Delrice Adams. "i2i is a game-changer for grassroots organizations with little to no grant management experience. For many of these organizations, the limited capacity for grant management and a lack of organizational infrastructure become barriers to providing innovative services that address the needs of their communities."
ICJIA also offers several training webinars on the application process, creating a budget, using the grant application system, and other topics. Upon processing the awards, ICJIA offers immediate administrative support to help new grantees successfully manage their grants and realize their visions of addressing community needs with their programs.

Grassroots organizations with operating budgets of less than $2 million also were prioritized to ensure equity. This priority helped level the playing field with heavily resourced, larger organizations to apply for and obtain funding.

The eligibility map was reassessed and updated in January 2024, as required every four years. Researchers identified areas eligible for R3 funding using community-level data on gun injury, child poverty, unemployment, and state prison commitments and returns, combined with disproportionately impacted areas previously identified by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

SFY25 R3 GRANT AWARDS

Organization	Grant Amount
The Foundation Academy, LLC	$300,000
LINCOLN ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT & DEVELOPMENT, INC.	$105,964
Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, Inc.	$216,189
Northeast Community Fund	$216,189
Home Away from Home Youth Development and Reentry INC NFP	$410,000
Kankakee County State's Attorney's Office	$409,860
Illinois Youth & Family Services	$838,610
Inspire Youth & Family Services INC.	$458,138
Northern Illinois Recovery Community Organization	$400,000
Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education	$379,652
Boys & Girls Club of Lake County	$418,150
Family First Center of Lake County	$419,305
Illinois Alliance for Reentry and Justice NFP	$212,027
BUILD, Inc.	$214,398
Safer Foundation	$211,000
Project Maven, INC	$952,703
YVITS, NFP	$949,004
Professional Litigant, INC	$947,458
Unstacked Inc	$577,771
Peace For Preston	$200,000
Black Expo Community Development Assn Inc.	$480,311
LAW AND THE FAM LLC	$1,000,000
District OutReach Industries	$999,803
The Restorative Project, Inc	$969,799
Emerald South Economic Development Collaborative	$952,703
TERRY COMMUNITY TREE	$250,000
ZIKOMO'S COMMUNITY OUTREACH	$250,000
Exxperts Chicago LTD	$239,000
ALPHA AND OMEGA FOUNDATION	$228,700
Illinois Alliance for Reentry and Justice NFP	$862,532
Restoring the Path	$952,703
Gordies Foundation	$952,703
Grand Boulevard Prevention Services	$378,610
I Am A Gentleman, Inc.	$194,752
Revolution Workshop	$350,000
Ring of Hope	$952,703
St. Leonard's Ministries	$778,800
Sunshine Gospel Ministries	$373,318
The Salvation Army	$550,000
Wonder World Social Services	$952,703
Youth Job Center	$207,951
Volunteers of America of Illinois	$430,176
Westside Community Empowerment Center	$250,000
Chicago Community Arts Studio	$70,443
Boxing Out Negativity, Inc.	$821,745
Youth Civic Light Opera of Chicago	$573,082
A & L YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES	$455,590
Life Is Work	$390,748
M.O.Y.A Moving Our Youth Ahead	$351,142
House of Hope Foundation	$248,756
UCAN	$430,175
Lawndale Christian Legal Center	$430,091
Ascending Knowledge Community Outreach International	$477,172
DJM COMMUNITY OUTREACH NFP	$151,472
HVAC/R Professional Community Center, Inc.	$551,665
Next Move	$496,653
Illinois Alliance for Reentry and Justice NFP	$386,258
Vision of Restoration, Inc.	$303,715
Metropolitan Family Services	$477,172
My Happy Place	$245,538
DREAAM Opportunity Center	$122,769
Prairie State Legal Services, Inc	$122,769
Greater Rockford Music Academy	$453,915
COMMUNITY LIFE CENTER OF ROCKFORD	$427,299
Rockford Barbell	$166,906
Comprehensive Community Solutions, Inc.	$226,958
Hope Community Project	$226,958
Maitri Path to Wellness, PLLC	$169,245
The Martin Luther King Jr. Center Inc	$169,245
Prairie State Legal Services, Inc	$84,623
God Family & Football LLC	$40,000
The Law Offices of Yolanda J. Riley, LLC	$150,000
Project Oz	$234,125
The Center for Prevention of Abuse	$234,125
Project Success of Vermilion County, Inc.	$115,000
The Foundation Academy, LLC	$249,960
Citizens Helping Citizens NFP	$249,755
Bond County Crisis Nursery	$200,000
What's The Formula Mentoring Academy	$449,919
YOUTH BE HEARD	$111,057
East Side Aligned	$449,919
Academic Development Institute, Inc.	$249,960
Rosie's Kidz Christian Academy School	$249,960
Our Brothers' Keepers of Southern Illinois	$121,586
Connect 360	$107,550
Arrowleaf	$121,624
Live Free Chicago	$121,624
A Gift of Love Charity, Inc.	$118,047
Total:	$35,000,000