Residents on the city’s Northwest Side may be losing access to programs provided by a local community organization.
That’s because the nonprofit Hermosa Neighborhood Association (HNA) says it’s set to lose state funding in June. As the grant end date approaches, community organizers are working to figure out what comes next.
Illinois previously awarded a total of $244 million in grants, using funds generated from taxes on cannabis sales to support and invest in underserved communities.
In 2022, the Hermosa Neighborhood Association applied for a planning and capacity-building grant under the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Program run by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA). The Grant Accountability and Transparency Act only allows for 36-month grant periods, and grantees are notified of their grant period in their R3 grant contracts.
According to ICJIA spokesperson Cristin Evans, the Hermosa Neighborhood Association’s planning and capacity-building grant period won’t end until June 30, 2025. The nonprofit was awarded an initial amount of $64,206 for a total of $192,618 through 2025.
“Yeah, 75% of that big chunk is payroll,” said Janette Pacheco, the association’s executive director and president. “Next big chunk is rent. We pay $1,600. We’re fortunate that it includes utilities and that we have something in the area for that little amount of rent. And then the last chunk is things that we need to buy on a monthly basis to cover.”
The nonprofit’s innovative STEM program provides participants with activities in science, technology, engineering, arts and math. The Cricut program helps kids utilize their skills for entrepreneurship opportunities; it requires them to do a capstone at the end of the program.
Angel Soberanis,15, used this program to harness his creativity and start a business. Using a 3D printer, he designs logos and places them on various clothing items. Soberanis and his mother load their merchandise on a cart and push it around the neighborhood making sales here and there.
But the nonprofit also provides services throughout the community that go beyond afterschool programs and activities targeted for the youth.
“They come in for everything,” Pacheco said. “They stop by the office, and they’ll say, ‘Hey, I don’t have my lights on, I don’t have diapers, I don’t have food. Where do I go? Do you have any resources?’ They’ll come to HNA first. We’re the hub.”
Before receiving the R3 grant, the organization relied on various donations as a resource. The nonprofit has an annual fundraiser, but it never raises more than $5,000. A decent portion of that donation comes from a local company, Menasha Packaging.
“They generously donate $2,000 every year,” said Alma Kreuser, founding member and vice president of the Hermosa Neighborhood Association. “That money accrued every year, and our bank account was about $8,000. It was thanks to them that we had funds in our account.”
Pacheco said if the nonprofit is not able to raise a minimum of $25,000 by the time the R3 grant ends, it will not be able to keep its doors open.
“Hundreds of community organizations across Illinois have innovative ideas for rebuilding neighborhoods torn apart by the so-called war on drugs. R3 was designed to bring grant funding equity, fairness, and opportunity to each one of them,” ICJIA’s Evans said in a statement.
“While some organizations are not awarded a second R3 grant,” the statement continued,
“eligibility mapping ensures funding and services continue to be provided fairly and equitably by organizations in each region of the state. So while one organization’s funding comes to an end, the R3 formula ensures funds remain in communities with other organizations that also have great programs.”
All eligible R3 organizations may apply for additional grants through future R3 funding opportunities when grants expire. However, grants and awards cannot be guaranteed.
ICJIA encourages organizations to develop a sustainability plan over the three-year grant periods to ensure continued service provisions once the grant funding ends.
Hermosa Neighborhood Association leaders acknowledged they were made aware of this suggestion. However, finding the capacity and time to develop these plans posed a problem, they said. Being a small nonprofit with other responsibilities only allows them so much time devoted to researching additional funding options.
The organization’s annual holiday fundraiser is approaching on Dec. 7, but aside from funding, Pacheco encourages community members to reach out and volunteer their time to help them keep the nonprofit running.
“What can our city do to bring more dollars into our community?” Kreuser said. “We need more business in our community. Otherwise, it’s a lot of empty storefronts, it’s a lot of litter, and it just doesn’t look good for our community. We want to uplift our residents, our businesses, our Hermosa.”
