Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart got nervous about how he might pay for a continuation of his Gun Violence Prevention Initiative, started in the aftermath of the Highland Park Fourth of July parade shooting, when the U.S. Department of Justice changed its funding priorities.
Rinehart said that since the initiative started, Lake County experienced a 31% decline in gun violence from 2023 to 2024, and a 21% drop the following year. In the cities of Waukegan, North Chicago and Zion, it was 31% the first year and 33% last year.
A solution arrived a few days ago when Rinehart learned his office will receive $1 million as part of Congress’ Community Project Funding program, courtesy of U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Highland Park.
“There is a desperate need for this and to keep it going,” Schneider said. “This will help it keep going a little longer. Saving a life is like saving the world.”
The $1 million for the Gun Violence Prevention Initiative is part of more than $15.1 million of Community Project Funding finalized Tuesday in Washington, going to communities and projects in Lake County sponsored by the four members of Congress representing parts of the county.
Projects include replacing lead pipes in North Chicago and Wauconda, extending the water intake line at Highland Park’s water treatment plant, restoration of forest lands at the Gander Mountain Forest Preserve and rehabilitation of the Lakeside Tower apartments in Waukegan.
U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Highland Park, third from left, presents a $1.092 million check to local officials at Highland Park’s George B. Prindle Water Treatment Plant on Thursday as part of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Community Project Funding program. (Office of Brad Schneider)
Schneider said no money was appropriated for the selected projects last year, even though items were approved as the government shutdown ended in November. U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, did not include them. This time was different.
“The process started to come together,” Schneider said. “This time, we all worked together to pass a funding package. It worked like it’s supposed to work with a bipartisan effort.”
Schneider said each member of the House can propose up to 15 projects — all 15 of his were approved. He works with county — the 10th District includes much of Lake, as well as parts of Cook and McHenry counties — and municipal officials to gather suggestions. He said he seeks projects with breadth.
“When something helps a lot of people, it goes to the top of the list,” Schneider said. “We’re looking for the biggest impact.”
Of Schneider’s 15 projects, 11 are located in Lake County, totaling nearly $9 million. U.S. Rep. Mike Quiigley, D-Chicago, secured just over $1 million to upgrade the Barrington water treatment plant.
U.S. Rep. Jan. Schakowsky, D-Evanston, helped Buffalo Grove obtain nearly $1.1 million for the Mill Creek Subdivision Utility Resiliency project, and the same amount for Lake County Public Works water system improvements.
U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville, was able to secure more than $1 million for lead pipe replacement in Wauconda, and a similar amount for the North Moraine Wastewater Reclamation District.
When it came to Lakeside Tower, a 14-story, 150-unit apartment project, Schneider said restoring the building across the street from a longtime church and the main post office helped an entire neighborhood.
“It was Lake County’s top priority,” Schneider said. “The problems there were spilling into the neighborhood. This was all about the community.”
Ernst Valery, the head of Lakeside Tower’s ownership entity, said in a text that the $1 million will be a big help in the massive renovations underway, where approximately $200,000 will be used to renovate each of the apartments.
“The high-rise tower had come under disrepair, but is currently undergoing a massive restoration encompassing completely new systems, facade, windows and energy improvements to enhance the lives of all the families who we serve,” Valery said.
North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr. said he is thrilled with the $1.1 million the city will receive for lead pipe replacements, and another $447,000 to upgrade police radio communications.
“Most of the (lead pipe replacement) will be around Broadway,” Rockingham said. “A lot of the buildings are apartments with four to eight units. We’re able to touch a lot of families.”
Other Lake County projects Schneider was able to arrange include $240,000 to modernize Round Lake Beach’s police communications system, nearly $1.1 million for sanitary sewer improvements in Antioch Township and $580,694 for downtown redevelopment in Antioch.
Other Schneider-sponsored projects include just under $1.1 million for the Northwest Regional Water Reclamation facility in Fox Lake, and a similar amount to improve the water intake system at the George B. Prindle Water Treatment Plant in Highland Park.
Meeting Schneider’s goal of reaching as many people as possible, the Highland Park facility provides water not only to the city, but also to Deerfield, Lincolnshire, Bannockburn, the Glenbrook Sanitary District and the military housing at the former Fort Sheridan.
A $1 million grant is going to the Gander Mountain Forest Preserve in Lake County, and a $250,000 grant will help the Waukegan Park District build an adaptive recreation area at Roosevelt Park for people with special needs.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/06/lake-county-federal-funding/
