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Friday, December 20, 2024

Community News & Updates !

Peoples

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Community News & Updates!
Click Here To Visit Our Website !Please Come Out & Support Your NEW Local Business 

Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus Foundation 2022 Scholarships

Click Here To Register ! Click Here To Apply !Utility Billing Relief (UBR) provides low-income City of Chicago residents with a reduced rate on their water, sewer, and water-sewer tax as well as debt relief for those who demonstrate they can manage the reduced rate bills for one year. Benefits for UBR participants include:

  • A reduced rate on water, sewer, and water-sewer tax.
  • No late payment penalties or debt collection activity including water shut-off.
  • Debt forgiveness after successfully completing one year with no past due balance.
Operating in partnership with the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County (CEDA), who operates the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the UBR program will utilize their expertise and extensive network of partner organizations to conduct outreach and enroll homeowners.

Apply Now !Street Sweeping Begins Friday, April 1st

Chicago utilizes mechanical street sweepers to remove debris and litter from streets. From April 1st through mid-November, bright orange temporary parking restrictions are posted the day before sweeping service is scheduled to begin on any street to ensure curb-to-curb cleaning. Some arterial streets have permanently posted signs that specify a once-per-week period when parking is prohibited for street sweeping.

Residents can view street sweepers in real time using the Sweeper Tracker online tool.  Click the following links for street sweeping schedules and maps, and to make a street sweeping request. You can also request for your street to be swept by calling 311.

Free Tax Prep Chicago

The City of Chicago is committed to ensuring that hardworking Chicagoans can access free tax services to file their returns and claim their tax refunds. The City of Chicago works with its nonprofit partner, Ladder Up, to offer free tax help throughout the tax season and at various points in the off-season.

Ladder Up is excited to open 13 tax sites throughout the Chicagoland area and is offering in-person and drop-off services to clients for the 2022 tax season. Click here to make an appointment or call 312-588-6900. The Tax filing deadline is April 18, 2022.

CTA's Second Chance Program

  • Holistic approach to preparing individuals to be self-sufficient.
  • Provides jobs to returning citizens, victims of abuse and others who face barriers to employment.
  • A wide range of training, education, mentoring and networking opportunities.
Cook County Justice Advisory Council

Gun Violence, Prevention and Reduction Grant Opportunity

Grant application period opens March 8th, - April 11th, 2022

The Cook County Justice Advisory Council (JAC) is seeking to award $50 million in grants for programs designed to prevent and reduce gun violence in Chicago and surrounding Cook County communities.

Chicago Recovery Grant Application for Community Development

Throughout 2021, the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) has supported a diverse set of projects that brought more than $500 million in development investment to Chicago’s neighborhoods.

The Chicago Recovery Plan provides additional opportunities for the City to invest in catalytic local development, expanding upon DPD’s existing investments and support.

DPD is now accepting applications for grant funding to support local commercial, mixed-use, and light manufacturing development. All are welcome to apply. City staff will prioritize projects in areas of Chicago where there is a history of disinvestment or limited private investment.

Click Here To Request Application

COOK COUNTY ASSESSOR’S TAX EXEMPTIONS

Cook County- In response to COVID-19, the Cook County Assessor’s Office will continue the automatic renewal of the Senior Freeze, Veterans with Disabilities, and Persons with Disabilities Exemptions; the Homeowner and Senior Exemptions, will continue to auto-renew every year.

If a homeowner received any of these five exemptions last year (tax year 2020), they do not need to reapply this year (tax year 2021).

To verify which exemptions were received last year, homeowners can visit the Cook County Property Tax Portal at cookcountypropertyinfo.com, enter their PIN and look under the exemption tab.

 Apply On-Line for Property Tax Exemptions

Property-tax-saving exemptions for the 2021 tax year are now available online (click here for Spanish) in a new, streamlined application. Exemptions are savings that contribute to lowering a homeowner’s property tax bill. 

The Cook County Assessor's Office will continue the automatic renewal of the Senior Freeze, Veterans with Disabilities, and Persons with Disabilities Exemptions; the Homeowner and Senior Exemptions, will continue to auto-renew every year.

If you received any of the five listed exemptions last year (tax year 2021), you do not need to reapply this year. Homeowners can visit the Cook County Property Tax Portal at cookcountypropertyinfo.com, enter their PIN and look under the exemption tab. Homeowners will receive a postcard or letter in March 2022 confirming which exemptions will be automatically renewed.

Property Tax Savings for Veterans

The Cook County Assessor is providing property tax exemptions for veterans. The Assessor’s Office administers both, Veterans with Disabilities and  Returning Veterans Exemptions, which can reduce the property tax bills of veterans.

Veterans are required to apply annually. Veteran homeowners who believe they may have been eligible in prior tax years can apply for a Certificate of Error. Visit the Cook County Assessor's website for more information.

You might have unclaimed property. The Illinois State Treasurer's office is urging Illinoisans to check their portal for unclaimed property. Since 2015, the treasurer's office has returned over $1 billion in assets, cash and value of returned shares. Check with the Illinois Treasurer Unclaimed Property page for Click here!

No Fee Veterans City Sticker Program

  • The office of the City Clerk offers no-fee City Stickers to eligible Illinois veterans. Residents who qualify must meet the following criteria:Be an Ex-Prisoner of War, Purple-Heart Veteran, or disabled Veteran with an unexpired Illinois PW, PR, IS or DV plate.
  • Present an unexpired Illinois Driver’s License or State ID with a “VETERAN” designation.
For more information to visit www.ChiCityClerk.com/sticker.

Discounts on MWRD Rain Barrels 

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District has discounted rain barrels available for your home. The price for Cook County residents is 50% off, or $21.96 per barrel limit 2. The price for senior citizens is reduced by 75%, or $10.98 per barrel, limit 2. The regular price is $43.92 per barrel. 

Rain barrels are a type of green infrastructure that capture rainwater from your roof and save it for when you need it. By keeping this water out of the sewer system, rain barrels can also help prevent sewer overflows and flooding. Click here to order your rain barrel.

People's Gas Winter Assistance and Resources

This winter, expect elevated heating bills due to a sharp nationwide increase in natural gas prices, driven by tight global supply and an increase in demand as economies reopen from COVID-19 shutdowns.

For anyone who needs help managing their bills, assistance is available.

Bill Pay Assistance:

To see if you are eligible and apply for bill pay assistance, go to cedarorg.net or call the Community Economic Development Association at 800-571-2332.

For those who don’t qualify for energy assistance:

Winter Energy-Saving Tips:

Manage energy use by turning down your thermostat, using a programmable thermostat, sealing gaps around windows and doors, and scheduling an annual furnace tuneup. Peoples Gas also offers free energy efficiency consultations. For more information, go to peoplesgasdelivery.com/savings/.

Budget Billing:

Pay the same amount each month with Budget Billing. The billing program spreads out seasonal variations in your Peoples Gas bill over 12 months. While you still pay for all of the natural gas you actually use, Budget Billing provides consistent bills throughout the year. For more information and to enroll, go to peoplesgasdelivery.com/payment-bill/budget.

www.derrickgcurtis.com

[8359 S. Pulaski]

[Chicago, IL 60652]

[773-284-5057]

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18th Ward Alderman Derrick G. Curtis | 8359 S. PULASKI RD, CHICAGO, IL 60652

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