Several Illinois municipalities will use nearly $3.5 million in federal funds to aid their COVID-19 recovery.

Forty-two American Rescue Plan Act-funded grants are heading to municipalities to accelerate local economic recovery initiatives. The grants are allocated through a program overseen by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to promote economic recovery.

Kane County will use $150,000 to support and study the pandemic's impacts on industry, mental health and broadband access, while the city of Springfield will receive $150,00 to develop a downtown and medical district master plan. Coles Together will receive $150,000 to develop a regional plan focused on COVID-19 recovery and economic infrastructure.

"These grants will help communities craft economic development plans that reflect the specific impact of the pandemic on their region, with the opportunity to apply for funding to put the plans into action in the future,” Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement.

 See the full list of recipients here.

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