Kankakee Economic and Community Development Agency

06/01/2026

Join us for our next Community Conversation with our friends from the University of Illinois Extension Office as we discuss healthy food access!

We hope to see you on Thursday, June 11 at 5:30pm at the Kankakee Public Library to learn about nutrition insecurity, identifying healthy options, and the relationship between food insecurity and our health. Get your questions answered, share your thoughts, and meet your neighbors.

Registration is not required, but encouraged. An interpreter will be available. You can find it at the link in our bio or here - bit.ly/ECDAjune26commconvo

05/29/2026

We are gearing up for the 4th Annual ECDA Luncheon in July and had to share throwbacks from last year!

The 4th Annual ECDA Luncheon is July 23, 2026 and will be here before you know it😊 Want to make sure your organization stands out this year? Reach out to ECDA Executive Director, Barbi, at [email protected] for sponsorship packages and see how your organization can get involved.

05/28/2026

FOR PUBLIC NOTICE: ECDA to Host Next Community Conversation at the Kankakee Public Library

KANKAKEE, IL (May 28, 2026) – The City of Kankakee Economic and Community Development Agency (ECDA) will host a Community Conversation on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 5:30pm at the Kankakee Public Library (201 E Merchant St, Kankakee). This is the fourth Community Conversation in the 2026 series for the residents of Kankakee with future Community Conversations taking place on the second Thursday of each month through October. A different topic for education and discussion will be featured monthly in partnership with a local organization. The highlighted topic for June is healthy food access in partnership with the University of Illinois Extension Office. Kankakeeans are encouraged to attend with the purpose of learning, providing personal perspectives about their neighborhoods, and engaging with their neighbors.

Questions can be directed to the ECDA office at 815-933-0506 or via email at [email protected].

05/27/2026

See you THIS SATURDAY at our Neighborhood Cookout! We hope you'll join us on the grounds of the Civic Auditorium on May 30th for an afternoon filled with fun, food, and fellowship with resources from community agencies including blood pressure checks from Riverside, live music from the Champagne Experience, a reptile show from Spizzirri Reptile Rescue & Rehab , and activities for all ages including one hosted by the Kankakee Public Library!

Invite your friends, tell your family this is part of their weekend plans, and we'll see you there!

You can read all the details about our Neighborhood Cookout on the ECDA website at bit.ly/ECDAoutreach.

05/27/2026

This month’s B.R.E.W. (Business Retention Every Wednesday) Feature is Hubly’s Towing!

For over 40 years, Hubly’s Towing has been serving the motoring public in Kankakee and offers professional and ethical services to the Kankakee County area and beyond! Now expanded into a modern fleet with two locations in Kankakee, family-owned Hubly’s takes great pride in servicing their commercial, police, and private towing customers. Thank you Hubly’s for choosing Kankakee!

Strong businesses equate to thriving communities. Business retention ensures local businesses stay, grow, and succeed – creating jobs, boosting the economy, and fostering a sense of pride in our community. As part of our ongoing Business Retention initiative, we will continue to highlight these incredible businesses that have made an impact here in the City of Kankakee.

05/26/2026

Hazardous conditions found in unsafe housing can lead to lead poisoning, asthma and other respiratory illnesses, cancer, and unintentional injuries or death, resulting in poor school attendance and performance for children, missed workdays for parents, and the loss of loved ones for all.

How healthy do you think Illinois is? Find out on our website at bit.ly/ECDA2025HHfactsheet.

Do any of the statistics surprise you?

05/23/2026

KankakeewithKids.com is THE local website to find kid-friendly events, classes, and places to go in Kankakee County—perfect for busy parents looking for fun. You can also follow Kankakee With Kids here on Facebook!

05/22/2026

The ECDA office will be closed on Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day. We will resume or regular hours on Tuesday at 8am.

05/22/2026

The SBA disaster loan application is still available! See the details below and at sba.gov/disaster. The deadline to apply for this funding for physical damage is June 8th.

If you were impacted by the March 10 tornado and hail storm, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest disaster loans to businesses, private nonprofits, homeowners, and renters impacted by the March 10 storm in both Kankakee and Iroquois Counties.

Homeowners can borrow up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence, and renters/homeowners up to $100,000 for personal property.

Rates are as low as 2.875%–4%, with no payments due for 12 months and terms up to 30 years.

📞 For assistance, contact SBA Customer Service at 800-659-2955 or email [email protected].

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For all other resources, we encourage you to dial 2-1-1.

05/20/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: ECDA to Host Neighborhood Cookout at Bill Spriggs Civic Auditorium

KANKAKEE, IL (May 20, 2026) – The City of Kankakee Economic and Community Development Agency (ECDA) will host a Neighborhood Cookout on Saturday, May 30, 2026 from 1pm to 4pm on the grounds of the Bill Spriggs Civic Auditorium (803 S 8th Ave, Kankakee). This community event is for all ages and will have several local agencies in attendance. “We are excited to host these community events again after last year’s success,” says Community Outreach Coordinator, Samantha Rocknowski. “There are always plenty of great family-friendly events for Kankakeeans to attend this time of year, but you can never provide too many opportunities for residents to learn about the resources available to them while also having some fun.”

Highlights of Saturday’s event include:
- Free blood pressure checks provided by Riverside Healthcare
- A reptile show from Spizzirri Reptile Rescue and Rehabilitation
- Live music from Champagne Experience
- An activity area for all ages – including a craft hosted by the Kankakee Public Library as well as a small bounce house for children 5 and under
- food served by volunteers from Salvation Army of Kankakee

In the event of poor weather, the Neighborhood Cookout will move indoors at the same location. Questions can be directed to the ECDA office at 815-933-0506 or via email at [email protected].