Lake County is set to receive more than $3 million in federal Community Project Funding after Congress finalized the FY2026 spending package, delivering a long-awaited cash infusion for some unglamorous but critical local needs. The money will be split across three efforts: a Lake Michigan water hookup for small systems around Forest Lake and Hawthorn Woods, a sanitary-sewer feasibility push in Antioch Township that could reach roughly 5,500 properties, and $1 million to rehabilitate Lakeside Tower, a 150-unit affordable building in downtown Waukegan. County leaders say the awards cap months of coordinated lobbying by the area’s congressional delegation and local officials.
Where The Money Goes
Local reporting shows the package zeroes in on water, wastewater and affordable housing issues across the county. The allocation includes funding for a Lake Michigan water connection, a township-wide sewer feasibility study for Antioch, and a $1 million award to rehab Lakeside Tower in Waukegan, according to Shaw Local.
Local Officials Welcome The Help
Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart hailed the awards in a county bulletin, saying, “This funding brings us a step closer to moving forward with transformational public works projects.” Legislative Committee Chair John Wasik called the wins “the direct result of coordinated advocacy” and said they will provide lasting benefits for residents across the county, the release adds. The county posted the announcement and contact details in a Feb. 9 bulletin outlining the three projects and how the money is expected to be used locally.
How The Money Was Approved
The funding was included in H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, which the White House says was signed into law on Feb. 3, 2026. Committee materials and the House appropriations report list the Lakeside Tower Rehabilitation as a $1,000,000 HUD Economic Initiatives item to be administered through Lake County. The Congressional Record and committee documents also show an EPA STAG, Clean Water State Revolving Fund line for Antioch Township sanitary-sewer work at roughly $1,092,000, a figure that matches the appropriations paperwork on file with Congress.
Next Steps And Timeline
According to the county bulletin, HUD will administer the Lakeside Tower rehab dollars while Lake County will serve as a pass-through to the property owner, and county public-works staff will continue the engineering and feasibility work for the Antioch sewer option. Locally, the awards are part of a broader package of district wins that Rep. Brad Schneider announced earlier, a slate of projects across the 10th District worth millions in recent appropriations reporting.
