Cook County in line for nearly $1B in federal stimulus, putting Preckwinkle’s equity goals to the test 

The federal government is about to rain $998 million in direct aid on Cook County, facing county leaders with immense questions about the region’s priorities as they look to unwind the county’s mammoth criminal justice infrastructure and build an economic recovery centered on racial equity. 

The staggering aid package is more than double what the county received in federal aid last year and represents almost 15 percent of the entire budget county leaders allotted for 2021. It stands apart from about $1.8 billion coming to the city of Chicago and $7.5 billion headed to Springfield, plus billions more headed to Chicago-area schools and public health agencies.