Gov. Pritzker Convenes Roundtable on BUILD Initiative to Lower Housing Costs

BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL - Governor Pritzker today convened local officials, community members, and construction and business representatives in McLean County to discuss building more housing to lower costs. During the roundtable, the Governor heard from local leaders and discussed how his Building Up Illinois Developments (BUILD) proposal can help make renting and owning homes more affordable in one of downstate Illinois' fastest-growing regions and throughout the state.

"For too long, a patchwork of local restrictions have made it too difficult and expensive to build and buy housing. Illinois working families deserve better, and through BUILD, we're fighting for the most significant housing affordability package in decades," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Homeownership - a cornerstone of the American dream - is too far out of reach, and rent is too damn high. We're coming together to cut through red tape, build more homes, and make Illinois the best state to live, work, and raise a family."

The Governor's BUILD proposal will cut through red tape and make it easier for developers to build, creating a new down payment assistant program for first-time homebuyers and building on existing programs; investing capital funding to build housing and for infrastructure improvements; and more. The comprehensive proposal seeks to address the demand for more housing and make housing more affordable for working families.

"Illinois is making a significant commitment to housing affordability at a time when families and entire communities are coping with rising housing costs, limited inventory, and barriers that discourage the construction of new homes and apartments," said IHDA Executive Director Kristin Faust. "The BUILD agenda is a much-needed step forward in addressing this crisis, giving agencies like IHDA the tools we need to support new affordable and middle-income rental housing while making homeownership possible for first-time homebuyers looking to put down roots in communities across our state."

Working families across the country and in Illinois are struggling to buy or rent a home because the U.S. is facing a housing shortage. Illinois is short about 142,000 housing units and will need to build over 225,000 units in five years to keep up with growing demand. With few housing options to choose from, Illinoisans are spending more of their income on housing. BUILD expands housing for working families by accelerating homebuilding through legislative reform, targeted capital investment, and innovative financial tools for working families.

""We know that securing affordable housing is a challenge for many people across the country right now," said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. "Investing in strategic initiatives that reduce development barriers, while simultaneously working to close financial gaps, is critical to expanding access to affordable homes for Illinois' working families. These efforts not only strengthen our workforce, local economies, and our communities, but they will attract investment - ensuring Illinois remains the best place to live, work, and do business."

"Illinois REALTORS continues to proudly support the Governor's BUILD Plan to address the state's housing supply crisis," said Illinois REALTORS CEO Jeff Baker. "Roundtables like this one are critical to hearing directly from those that see and experience the supply crisis firsthand. We are mobilizing thousands of real estate professionals statewide to engage in conversations like these in their communities, especially with their local elected officials to impress upon them the importance of this legislation."

During the roundtable, participants discussed the importance of keeping pace with workforce housing needs, and how Bloomington-Normal represents an area with strong job growth and population gains paired with significant housing needs. Today's conversation emphasized how BUILD can help close the gap currently preventing the market from building more affordable housing.

"Governor Pritzker's BUILD Plan is a significant step forward in addressing housing supply challenges across Illinois through thoughtful, statewide solutions. This plan reflects a strong understanding of the barriers developers face and creates real opportunities to move projects forward," said Nora Harrison, Senior Community Development Manager of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council. "In communities like ours, housing availability directly impacts workforce growth and economic stability. I appreciate the Governor's commitment to supporting communities of all sizes, and I am hopeful this effort will make a lasting impact across Illinois."

"We are grateful to Governor Pritzker for prioritizing affordable housing and recognizing it as a key part of strengthening both our communities and our health care system," said Eunmee Shim, President of OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington. "In a community facing an estimated shortfall of 4,500 affordable housing units, the health care workforce is being priced out. Nurses, technicians, aides, and support staff face challenges caring for a community they can't afford to call home. If we want reliable, compassionate care, we must treat workforce housing as essential infrastructure - just as critical as the clinics and hospitals themselves."

Legislative Package to Expand Housing Supply

Illinois is advancing legislation to accelerate homebuilding by removing red tape and creating clear, predictable rules across jurisdictions:

Capital Investment Package

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) will administer $100 million to remove upfront infrastructure barriers that prevent otherwise viable housing projects from breaking ground.

This investment will:

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) will administer $150 million to support building more starter homes and rental housing for families, as well as support additional down payment assistance programs to unlock opportunities for those historically experiencing barriers. The proposed funding from BUILD will help IDHA continue in their efforts of making homeownership a reality for first time homebuyers.

"Strong Towns Blono's mission is to foster a vibrant, safe, economically and environmentally sustainable, and livable community so we wholeheartedly support the efforts of Governor Pritzker's Building Up Illinois Developments (BUILD) Plan to make housing of all types attainable for all Illinoisans," said Noah Tang, President of Strong Towns Blono. "These reforms will re-enable our cities to grow naturally with a time-tested model of incremental development: one where residents are empowered to be a part of the progress in their communities, not merely relegated to the sidelines."

"We are encouraged by the proposal by the Governor and are happy to be included in the discussions moving forward as we work to address the housing needs we are experiencing in McLean County," said Jim Rogal, Vice Chairman of McLean County.

"Illinois is blessed with amazing assets rarely found around the world - rich soil, abundant water, and awesome transportation that helps millions of families enjoy a wonderful lifestyle," said Tony Caccomo, President of New Heartland Systems LLC, a development company. "Our creativity and innovation will bring new housing options for all Illinoisans to enjoy."