Governor Pritzker Announces $1 Million in Economic Development Grant Funding for Village of Deer Creek

Funding will support economic development and job creation efforts in Central Illinois

Chicago, IL - Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced $1 million in funding for the Village of Deer Creek through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. The Village will use this funding to support Heartland Food Solutions LLC in expanding their operations, employing 40 Illinoisans within Deer Creek.

"I'm proud to announce this critical funding that supports the hardworking Deer Creek community and boosts the Central Illinois economy," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Investments like these don't just sustain local economies and create new jobs for Illinoisans - they transform communities, promote continued growth, and raise the quality of life for working families in our state."

"The CDBG Program plays an essential role in improving the quality of life for Illinoisians," said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. "This funding will support the critical resources needed to expand economic and job opportunities throughout Deer Creek and across the state."

Heartland Food Solutions is an Illinois company with sister companies involved in food production and processing in Central Illinois, employing more than 150 people. This grant funding will allow Heartland to enter the popcorn production market by assisting with the purchase of equipment after acquiring an existing company and keeping much needed jobs in this small community of less than 700 people.

"The Village of Deer Creek is pleased to facilitate this economic development grant program process," said Village President Grant Hackney. "As the grant facilitator we are happy to assist in order to support continued growth of this local business. We are grateful to the DCEO for the work they do to keep small towns like Deer Creek appealing to new and existing businesses."

"The ready-to-eat popcorn market is growing rapidly as consumers shift toward healthier, better-for-you snacks, and we're seeing strong demand across both existing and new customers. This grant funding allows us to invest in equipment, create new jobs, and add new capabilities. This will enable us to reach new customers and support continued growth while growing with Deer Creek and the surrounding communities," said Derek Karr, CFO, Heartland Food Solutions.

This grant is part of the State of Illinois' Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program funding, which is awarding a total of more than $34 million. This includes the CDBG Economic Development Component, CDBG for Public Infrastructure, CDBG for Housing Rehabilitation, and the CDBG Disaster Response Program.

The full list of grant recipients can be found here. Through the 2025 CDBG Program funding:

• A total of $24 million will be awarded to 15 communities, serving 14,000 Illinoisians through CDBG Public Infrastructure funding. Public Infrastructure grants provide communities with funding for healthy drinking water and sanitary sewer systems.

• A total of $8 million will be awarded to 13 communities, which will support the rehabilitation of 130 homes through CDBG for Housing Rehabilitation funding. These grants keep low-to-moderate income homeowners in their homes by assuring safe living conditions.

• Disaster Response grants are available to communities who have endured a natural disaster as declared by the Governor. The grants help with the unanticipated costs that cannot be absorbed in the local budget. Two small communities in Fulton County, Liverpool and Buckheart, will share almost $300,000 with Fulton County after losses from a derecho.

"This key funding will help strengthen communities across our state by supporting projects that improve the day-to-day lives of Illinois families and grow local economies," said U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). "I'm pleased to see this significant investment support economic development and job opportunities in Deer Creek and across Illinois. I will continue working alongside Governor Pritzker, Senator Durbin and our local leaders to ensure Illinoisans receive the much-needed resources they deserve."

"Community Development Block Grants are instruments of change that help stabilize communities with investments in economic development, secure housing, recovery efforts in the wake of natural disasters, and key water infrastructure projects," said U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL). "These investments can pay off with new jobs - including in the production of the official state snack - and demonstrate what is possible when federal, state, and local agencies collaborate to help residents."

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program was established by the U.S. Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ("HCD Act"). These state-administered funds are earmarked exclusively for non-metropolitan communities that do not receive CDBG entitlement funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. All funding benefits communities with 51 percent or more low-to-moderate income residences, in accordance with CDBG program requirements.