Lake County Gazette

The Lake County Board has sanctioned the allocation of $755,000 in Video Gaming Revenue to support social programs and services that serve county residents.

Every year, the board makes decisions on award recommendations based on the Video Gaming Revenue policy, as stated in the Lake County Board's agenda for its April 9 meeting. The considerations include social programs, projects excluding capital improvements, and other services that are beneficial to county residents.

According to the same agenda from the April 9 meeting, the Housing and Community Development Commission had received requests to fund projects and services amounting to $829,100. The commission approved grant awards totaling $755,000 for various initiatives: 211 information and referral services ($125,000); gambling education and outreach ($100,000); gambling addiction services ($100,000); financial literacy services ($41,000); and behavioral health services ($416,000).

The beneficiaries of these funds will be several agencies including Nicasa, Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Northern Illinois, Lake County Health Department, Arden Shore Behavioral Health, Community Youth Network, Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center, Youth and Family Counseling, A Safe Place, Kids Above All, and United Way of Lake County. This was also confirmed in the Lake County Board's agenda for its April 9 meeting.