NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS   1/29/26   City of Havana 227 W. Main St. Havana, IL 62644 (309) 543-6580   On or about February 9th, 2026 the City of Havana will submit a request to the State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) for the release of Community Development Block Grant Program (i.e., CDBG) Housing Rehabilitation (i.e. HR) funds under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, to undertake a project known as The City of Havana Housing Rehabilitation for the purpose of rehabilitation of 10 (ten) single family, owner-occupied homes of low to moderate income residents located in a target area of the City of Havana. The estimated cost of the actual rehabilitation work to be undertaken with Grant funds is $650,000.   The activities proposed are categorically excluded under HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58 from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. An Environmental Review Record (ERR), for a Tier 1 review of the entire target area that documented environmental determinations of 12 of 15 relevant bodies of Federal environmental law for this project, is on file at 227 W. Main St., Havana, IL and at WIRC-CAA office located at 133 W. Jackson St., Macomb, IL 61455 and may be examined or copied weekdays from 8:00 A.M to 4:00 P.M.   PUBLIC COMMENTS Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the WIRC-CAA at 133 West Jackson Street, Macomb, IL 61455. All comments received by February 5th, 2026, will be considered by the City of Havana prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds.   ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION The City of Havana certifies to the State of Illinois DCEO that Dennis Bryant in his capacity as Mayor consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. DCEO’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the City of Havana to use Program funds.   OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS The State of Illinois DCEO will accept objections to its release of funds and the City of Havana’s certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City of Havana; (b) the RE has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by the State of Illinois DCEO; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to State of Illinois DCEO, located at 1011 S 2nd St., Springfield IL 62704. Potential objectors should contact State of Illinois DCEO to verify the actual last day of the objection period.   Once this target area-wide Tier 1 Environmental Review Record (ERR) is determined to be acceptable by the State of Illinois DCEO, City of Havana will be directed to prepare and submit to the State Tier 2 ERR’s for individual homes identified to be rehabilitated with Program funds. Each Tier 2 review will document environmental determinations for the following bodies of Federal environmental law: Contamination and Toxic Substances; Historic Preservation, and Noise Abatement and Control.   Dennis Bryant, Mayor