WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood has announced more than $2.9 million in new federal funding for northern Illinois, including more than $2.3 million for the City of Ottawa to acquire and demolish a property affected by flooding from the Fox River. Northern Illinois University in DeKalb received $147,766 for allergy and infectious disease research and another $476,199 for biomedical research and research training.
Ottawa Mayor Rob Hasty said the FEMA funding will help expand green space along the Fox River. “This is the next phase of something that we’ve been working on for a long time in regards to a FEMA buyout grant in partnership with the YMCA to tear down the former YMCA, which sits on the Fox River, then deepen that property over to the city for expanded park area along the river. So this is something we’ve been working on to help the YMCA with their continued project over at their new facility and adding green space for the people here in Ottawa,” Hasty said.
The former YMCA property was being used as a homeless shelter, which has since moved to a new building this week.
