Now, the state’s innovative efforts to use tax revenues to help communities affected by the war on drugs are taking shape.
The state awarded the agency $1.1 million in January to expand programs serving Harvey, Riverdale, Dolton, Blue Island, Robbins and other communities.
Illinois was the first state where the legislature legalized recreational pot sales, as opposed to voters approving a referendum.
The authority divided the state into 12 regions and devised a formula to dole out cash.
State lawmakers specified criteria for communities to receive funding from cannabis tax revenues.
Those are exactly the type of services being funded by Restore, Reinvest and Renew.
Meghan Kelly, a program director for a Metropolitan Family Services facility based in Merrionette Park, said a career coach and job developer have been working with area residents to help them get jobs.