Lake County Welcomes $30 Million in Grant Funding from the State for Stormwater Infrastructure Projects

Today, Lake County welcomed Illinois Governor Pritzker to Waukegan. Officials from the State and County gathered at Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep in Waukegan to announce and share their gratitude for the initial $30 million of the total $122 million in funding granted to be received from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.  

This funding will be used to support local initiatives in managing regional stormwater and related infrastructure maintenance and improvement projects to reduce flooding for hard hit communities across the county. Project locations will include Antioch, Fox Lake, Grayslake, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Park City, Shields Township, Warren Township, and Waukegan, in the weeks to come.  

“I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Governor Pritzker and his administration, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) as well as our state and federal legislators and local partners for being here and, more importantly, for their commitment and never-ending work in protecting our communities from these catastrophic flood events,” said Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart.  

Kurt Woolford, Executive Director of the Stormwater Management Commission shared, “The initial 14 projects designated to receive the first phase of capital funding will provide critical upgrades to aging infrastructure and improved water drainage that is crucial for our county. Our goal in choosing these first projects is to have an immediate positive impact on the lives of countless Lake County residents who face continued challenges because of our region's persistent stormwater issues.” 

Grant funds will be used for costs associated with the implementation of the initial 14 component projects in Lake County. In all, it is estimated these improvements will provide stormwater management benefits to more than 2,300 properties and 25 roadways across Lake County. The initial projects are:  

1. Park City Flood Mitigation Storm Sewer 
   City of Park City
2. Dady Slough Outlet and Infrastructure Improvements
   Cities of Waukegan and Park City
3. Skokie River Channel Improvements Phase 2
   City of Lake Forest 
4. Burr Oak Stormwater Detention and Storm Sewer
   City of Lake Forest 
5. Highlands Neighborhood Drainage Improvements
   City of Highland Park  
6. Haryan Farm Drainage System Improvements
   Village of Grayslake.  
7. Knollwood Subdivision Flood Mitigation and Road Improvements
    Village of Fox Lake 
8. Oak Spring Lane Storm Sewer Bypass
   Unincorporated Libertyville Township 
9. Rockland Road Area Storm Sewer – Final Phase
   Village of Libertyville.  
10. Seavey Master Plan Highlands Subdivision Phase 1
    Village of Libertyville 
11. Seavey Master Plan Highlands Subdivision Phase 2
    Village of Libertyville  
12. Sequoit Creek Channel Improvements
    Village of Antioch 
13. Talbot Avenue Drainage Improvements
    Unincorporated Shields Township  
14. Wildwood Area Stormwater Infrastructure Improvements
    Unincorporated Warren Township