Comprehensive Community Solutions asked Rockford city council for $400,000 in cannabis tax revenue to close a $500,000 funding shortfall for its Alive & Free youth program.
Alive & Free, launched in 2023, serves youth aged 11 to 24 in neighborhoods the nonprofit calls disproportionately affected by poverty, trauma, violence and school disengagement. CCS CEO William Chatman says the program delivers a measurable return: $10 in community value for every $1 spent. CCS cites program outcomes at Rockford Public Schools including a 20% rise in math performance, a 3% increase in attendance and a 50% drop in school disciplinary referrals at McIntosh Elementary and Guilford High School.
Chatman told council staff that state support lapsed and that CCS faces a $500,000 gap for Alive & Free. The Winnebago County Mental Health Board committed $100,000 per year for two years; CCS is requesting $400,000 from Rockford’s cannabis sales tax revenue—the city levies a 3% cannabis sales tax—to cover the remainder.
On Monday the city’s planning and development committee voted 2-1 against recommending the $400,000 allocation. Ald. Tim Durkee (R-1st Ward) and Ald. Gina Meeks (D-12th Ward) opposed the request; one committee member voted in favor. The full City Council may reconsider the request at a possible final vote on June 29, when council is scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall.
Durkee said he supports youth programs but questioned the proposal’s specificity and long-term accountability. He asked officials to inventory similar programs before approving new recurring city support and suggested a stronger focus on earlier childhood interventions and criminal record expungement tied to cannabis policy.
“When there’s a problem, politicians call for programs and money, but no one measures long-term effectiveness,” Durkee said. He proposed revisiting the city’s rules on cannabis revenue to prioritize expungement and related services tied to past cannabis enforcement.
Mayor Tom McNamara and other advocates argued the Alive & Free model fits Rockford’s 2020 policy for cannabis revenue. The policy directs 3% cannabis sales tax dollars toward restorative justice and community investment, largely via the REGROW Grant Program. McNamara said Rockford collects roughly $850,000 in cannabis tax revenue each year that awaits council allocation and called Alive & Free a fit for those funds.
“We have reduced violent crime by 48% over the last eight years,” McNamara said, crediting prevention programs for part of that drop. He also said the Alive & Free model aligns with the city’s stated goals for cannabis revenue, including youth programming and community trauma treatment.
Chatman urged council to weigh program performance and warned that without city support CCS would cut staff and services. “Can Rockford afford not to fund this program that’s proven to benefit students and reduce referrals?” he asked.
City documents present the Alive & Free request as part of a broader menu of uses allowed under the cannabis revenue policy: economic and business development, education, youth programming, family violence prevention and community trauma treatment. Officials must decide whether this specific program meets the policy standards and whether to set ongoing funding or one-time grants.
Opponents raised two practical concerns: potential overlap with other nonprofits and the need for clearer outcome tracking over multiple years. Durkee said some programs offer similar services and recommended a centralized review to avoid duplication.
Supporters highlighted the program’s reported short-term education metrics and the county health board’s $100,000 annual commitment. They argued that redirecting cannabis revenue to local prevention programs can keep youth in school and reduce future criminal justice costs.
If council approves the $400,000 allocation, the city would use part of its apparent $850,000 annual cannabis revenue pool. If the request fails, CCS officials say they will reduce Alive & Free activities and staffing to match available public and private funding.
A final council action is expected at the June 29 meeting. Council members will vote on whether to allocate cannabis tax funds to Alive & Free or to reserve the revenue for other programs under the REGROW framework.
