Town of Cicero Secures Over $1.4 Million In Grant Money This Year Under Dominick
Thanks to the hard work of Cicero's grant writers and exceptional staff, the Town of Cicero has this year secured $1,436,000 in allocated grant funds, bringing the total grant funds acquired under Town President Larry Dominick to more than $7.6 million. With these funds, more than 500 Cicero residences have been or will be rehabilitated, approximately 250 housing units have had lead abated, more than a dozen social service agencies have received funds that have served more than 20,000 Cicero residents, and many public works projects such as street and alley repairs, a new park, and more have been completed. In addition to this years totals, the Town will be receiving an extra $380,000 to use for alley repairs.
The following grants have already been awarded to the Town:
Gang Prevention Program - $200,000 Used to acquire laptop computers, digital cameras desktop computers, a K-9 dog, night surveillance equipment, and specialized training for officers in gang enforcement and awareness
Literacy Program - $150,000 Expands the Larry Dominick Literacy Program, designed to aid Cicero students in improving their reading and writing skills and facilitating their cognitive development
Senior Citizen Transportation - $100,000 Funds used to purchase 2 handicapped accessible buses for the Cicero senior citizens free transportation program, the most used and requested senior service the Town offers
Cicero Youth Commission - $150,000 The Cicero Youth Commission provides a healthy outlet for many of Cicero's children with many after school activities and during the summer months
Garbage Cans - $215,000 The Town received two grants totaling $215,000 with which it has purchased 6,100 new garbage cans that have been distributed free of charge to Town residents
Rehab of Property - $40,000 Rehabilitation of the building at 16th & Laramie, currently home to the Cicero Housing Authority
Artificial Turf - $360,000 Used to develop an artificial turf field that will provide year-round recreational opportunities for both soccer and football at the new park at 1808 S. Laramie
Sports Lighting - $300,000 Used to purchase sports lighting for the park at 1808 S. Laramie that will allow for extended play times and increased safety
Safe Passage - $500,000 Provided for the purchase of mobile data terminals, walkie talkies and surveillance cameras to ensure student's safety to and from school by ensuring there is no gang presence or activity to interfere with their safe passage
FEMA Fire Prevention & Safety Grant - $171,600 Provided for the purchase and distribution of 1,500 combination carbon monoxide and smoke detector units at no cost to Cicero residents
FEMA - Wind Damage - $329,366 Targeted for the clean up and disposal of debris from the wind storm of August 23rd, 2008
The following grants have been approved, but are still currently in process:
Neighborhood Stabilization Program - $2,078,351 Provides 0% interest, deferred payment loan to purchase a foreclosed home in one of Cicero's targeted areas adversely impacted by the housing crisis
HOME - $350,000, $1 million per year for the next 3 years Provides $350,000 for lead abatement in Cicero homes, and $1 million per year for the next three years for new housing initiatives
Homeless Prevention - $581,065 Expands agencies and network capacity in Cicero to help prevent homelessness and provide for the Rapid Re-Housing Program
Energy - $727,300 Used to retrofit Town owned buildings to make them more energy efficient, in turn cutting operating costs and saving Cicero taxpayers money
The following grants have been applied for:
FEMA - $313,834/$251,068 Would replace 10-year old firefighting equipment with new, state-of-the-art equipment
CHRPS-2009 - $2,021,430 Would provide 100% of salary and benefit costs to hire 6 additional Cicero police officers
Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 - At least $1,000,000 requested Would continue the Cicero Neighborhood Stabilization Program and extend it benefits to more would-be home owners. $1.93 billion is available nationally for this program.
Dominick Begins Second Term at the Helm of "New Cicero"
On Tuesday, May 12th, Cicero Town President Larry Dominick was sworn-in to his 2nd term as Cicero Town President at the Town's Regular Board Meeting. Dominick was reelected to the post on February 24th, garnering an overwhelming 64% of the vote.
State Senator Martin Sandoval administered the oath of office to Dominick, as well as to the other Town officials victorious in the February election: Clerk Marylin Colpo; Supervisor Joe Virruso; Trustee Maria Punzo-Arias; Trustee Lorraine Walsh.
"Serving as Cicero Town President for the last four years has been the honor of a lifetime for me," said Dominick. "I am deeply humbled by the trust the residents of Cicero have placed in me and my administration for the next four years. I look forward to working with the Town Board as we continue the progress and positive development in the 'New Cicero'."
The location of the swearing-in ceremony - the Council Chambers at the new Cicero Town Hall, part of the Town's new, state-of-the-art Municipal Complex - was just one reminder of the progress and improvements seen under President Dominick's first term in office. Other highlights and accomplishments in the "New Cicero" include: new parks at 1808 S. Laramie and 35th & Laramie, a 60% reduction in gang violence and the lowest incidence of homicide this decade, as well as the Town's successful, proactive work to bring new businesses and new jobs to Cicero.
Dominick cited as part of his agenda for the next four years the redevelopment of the Sportsman's Park site into a modern lifestyle mall and the development of an Aquatic Center to benefit Cicero residents.
"I want to thank everyone who has offered their support and their encouragement," noted Dominick. "I look forward to the great things we will accomplish together in the "New Cicero" in the years to come."
The Grand Opening of the "New Cicero" Municipal Complex
What started just over two years ago as part of Cicero Town President Larry Dominick's vision for the New Cicero was realized yesterday in total with the grand opening of the New Cicero Municipal Complex.
Dominick, joined by Town officials and employees and elected officials from the area, cut the ceremonial ribbon yesterday morning, October 14th, prior to the town's first Town Board meeting in the new complex to mark the official grand opening of the new Town Hall and Police Department facilities. The modern complex will serve to further enhance the responsiveness of town services in the same way that the town's new Community Center and The Park at 1808 S. Laramie have provided value-added public space for Cicero families.
Presented here, in two parts, is the 15-minute long videography detailing the 2-year construction project that was shown at the complex's grand opening ceremony.
