MCCA today announced the award of $250,000 in grants and loans to assist 70 first-time homebuyers to in the purchase of a new home.  These funds are part of a $2.8 million Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) grant allocated to nine agencies for disbursement to Illinois residents to assist with down payment and closing costs, subordinate loans and homebuyer education to income-eligible homebuyers.

More information on this program can be found on our Downpayment Assistance page.

We cannot begin making appointments until July 19, which will also be a walk in day in both McLean County and Livingston County. This program pays $150 on electric bills for at risk households:

• seniors 60 and over;
• persons receiving SS, SSI or VA disability payments or who have pending documentation;
• those households with a child aged 2 or under; and
• households where someone has a serious medical condition aggravated by extreme heat – they must provide a Dr’s letter dated within the last ninety days.

There is no reconnection assistance with this program and no cash payments for renters where the landlord pays the electricity. Income guidelines remain the same as last year.

Please contact a MCCA office for additional information or call on or after July 19 for an appointment – we will post additional walk in days as they are determined.

In McLean County, call 309-829-0691
In Livingston County, call 815-844-3201

MCCA has been designated as a tax site for the Center for Economic Progress again in 2010.

Starting on January 25th, 2010, families  with incomes of less than $55,000 and individuals with incomes of less than $30,000 can have their taxes prepared  at no cost. The service will be available on Mondays, from 9am until 3pm and 5pm until 7pm. Customers who do not have a bank account in which to deposit their refund will be able to open a savings or checking account at the time of their appointment.

Appointments are available on a first come, first served basis.

In order to expedite your appointment, please bring the following documentation with you:

• All W-2s and 1099s (if any)
• Social Security cards or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) for all family members
• Valid photo ID
• Copy of last year’s tax return, if available
• Bank account number and routing number to direct deposit your refund
• Property tax bill
• Amount spent on college expenses

For more information on this service and other tax site locations, please call the Center for Economic Progress at (888) 827-8511, or visit www.economicprogress.org