NCICG holds annual dinner

Joe Galvan, regional director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development's Midwest Region, addresses those attending last month's North Central Illinois Council of Governments' annual dinner. (Photo contributed)

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PRINCETON — The North Central Illinois Council of Governments, located in Princeton, held its annual dinner Oct. 23 at Mona’s Italian Restaurant in Toluca.

The NCICG has helped local communities with a variety of projects, including the administration of Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grants, helping apply for other grants and administering the Enterprise Zone.

NCICG has been helping local government officials for almost 30 years. In October 1979, NCICG located in Princeton and began offering its professional services to the surrounding communities.

NCICG does not receive any governmental funding. As a not-for-profit, independent organization, it is able to exist on a per capita membership fee from member communities, grant administration funds, planning project funds, and other project or administration programs.

Scheduled speakers included Phil McAlearny, the manager of Heritage Senior Homes of Hanna City and the former mayor of Hanna City, who spoke on the development, implementation and completion of affordable housing for a seniors’ project.

Also speaking was Anaise Berry, the director of the Illinois River Road National Scenic Byways, on the recent achievements, information on the byway corridor as a tourist destination and a catalyst for economic development.

A surprise speaker was Joseph Galvan, regional director for the six states in the U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development’s Midwest Region. As director of HUD in Chicago, Galvan helped Hanna City access grant funding to realize its vision of creating supportive housing for the elderly in their community.

Galvan was appointed by President Bush to oversee the HUD region that covers the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin with an annual budget that exceeds $8 billion.

NCICG wrote and administered the $3,336,100 grant for the newly created Hanna City Home Association. The office of Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Peoria, brought the two entities together knowing NCICG had just completed a similar project in Henry.

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