{"id":29747,"date":"2026-03-09T15:11:24","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:11:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/granitecitygossip.com\/?page_id=29747"},"modified":"2026-03-09T15:11:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:11:56","slug":"madison-co-press-release-mar-2026","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/granitecitygossip.com\/index.php\/madison-co-press-release-mar-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Madison Co Press Release Mar 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"
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March 9, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Madison County offering $5,000 scholarships<\/strong>
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EDWARDSVILLE \u2014 Madison County Community Development is accepting applications for a scholarship program designed to assist local students planning to attend college, trade school or other training programs during the upcoming academic year.
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Through funding provided by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program will award three scholarships valued at $5,000 each for the 2026-2027 school year. The awards will be distributed in two $2,500 installments at the start of the fall and spring semesters.
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The scholarships must be used toward tuition, fees and program-specific supplies. Funds may not be used for housing, meals or transportation.
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Eligible applicants must be residents of Madison County and planning to attend a college, university, trade school or occupational training program.
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To qualify, students must also meet the CSBG income eligibility guidelines. Applicants must provide proof of gross income for the previous 30 days for all household members over the age of 18.
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Current income eligibility guidelines for a 30-day period are:
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Family Size<\/strong>
30-Day Income<\/strong>
1 $2,660
2 $3,607
3 $4,553
4 $5,500
5 $6,447
6 $7,393
7 $8,340
8 $9,287
For families with more than eight members, add $946 for each additional member.
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Applicants must complete the scholarship application and CSBG intake forms and provide documentation including a photo identification or school ID and Social Security card. Students must also submit college transcripts, or high school transcripts if they enter college for the first time.
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A letter of recommendation from a high school or college official is also required and must be submitted on official letterhead.
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Applicants must also submit a minimum 500-word essay describing themselves, their college plans and career goals. Essays must respond to at least three questions from a list provided in the application.
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Previous scholarship recipients are eligible to apply again.
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Applications must be submitted by June 30, 2026. The CSBG Advisory Council Scholarship Committee will review all applications and announce final selections in August.
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Completed applications may be mailed or delivered to:
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Madison County Community Development,
Attn: CSBG Scholarship Program,
157 N. Main St.,
Suite 312,
Edwardsville, IL 62025
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between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Applicants who prefer to submit materials online may contact the department to receive a secure submission link.
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For more information, contact Deanna Obernuefemann at 618-296-6177 or dmobernuefemann@madisoncountyil.gov<\/a>. Visit https:\/\/www.madisoncountyil.gov<\/a> for additional information and application materials.
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