Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Program

The Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) program was created through the legalization of adult recreational cannabis use in Illinois. Program funds are used to reduce gun violence through intervention and prevention, improve re-entry and diversion services for people involved with the criminal justice system, provide access to legal representation and advice, encourage investment and economic growth, enhance youth development, and support programs that improve the social determinants of health. The current report details the R3 program implementation process (including grantmaking, grant review, and funding) during the program’s inaugural period of performance, June 25, 2019 to January 31, 2022. During the first round of funding, the R3 program received over 400 applications and funded 80 community-based programs.

Read our latest R3 brief describing results of an applicant survey. Overall, survey respondents appeared satisfied with the application process and offered recommendations for improving future grant application cycles.

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) announced today two funding opportunities for the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Program totaling $50 million in grants to historically underserved communities.

Deputy Director Charise Williams joined Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton and Director Yaacov Delaney of Justice, Equity, and Opportunity Initiative for a fireside chat with Young Leaders in Action.

This report details findings related to scale and reach of Cohort One service delivery sites using administrative data submitted by Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3)-funded programs. Over 137,000 individuals were served and 369 new staff positions were created across Cohort One. Civil legal aid programs managed more than 2,400 cases, including expungements/sealings, evictions, and income/asset protection. Economic development programs managed more than 2,200 cases and provided services in workforce, business, and financial development. Reentry programs managed more than 4,600 cases and assisted individuals with workforce development, healthcare, housing, and legal issues. Violence prevention programs managed over 1,000 cases and assisted participants with workforce development, healthcare, and housing. Finally, youth development programs managed almost 1,400 cases and assisted youth in workforce development and education. Overall, across the five domains, a substantial number of Illinoisians were provided supports and services by R3-funded service delivery programs in Cohort One.

A Letter from Lieutenant Governor Stratton: The creation of the Restore, Reinvest and Renew (R3) program marked an unprecedented milestone in the State of Illinois: a commitment to addressing decades of underinvestment and harm caused by the war on drugs.

The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act legalized adult-use cannabis in Illinois on January 1, 2020. In addition to limiting enforcement and prosecution of cannabis-related offenses and providing a source of state revenue, the Act established the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew grant program (R3). Administered by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA), R3 directs a significant portion of cannabis revenue toward building equity in communities that have been ravaged by violence and disproportionately impacted by historical criminal justice system overuse and economic disinvestment. This brief report highlights results of a feedback survey provided to R3 grant program applicants regarding their application experiences. Overall, survey respondents appeared satisfied with the process and offered recommendations to consider for improving future grant application cycles.

CHICAGO— Using revenue from adult-use cannabis sales, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) today announced $45 million in grant funding will support 148 programs run by small organizations in communities hardest hit by the failed war on drugs.

R3 grants will support local organizations with smaller budgets in communities heavily affected by violence, criminal justice system overuse, and economic deprivation

The Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act created the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) program, which reinvests a portion of cannabis tax revenue into communities experiencing high rates of gun injury, unemployment, child poverty, and incarceration. These grant funds support programming in five priority areas: civil legal aid, economic development, reentry services, violence prevention services, and youth development. This report details site-specific process evaluations on the implementation and operations of select R3 grantees throughout Illinois. Researchers utilized a mixed methods approach and varied data sources by evaluation site. These sources included observations, interviews, surveys, focus groups, and administrative data. Overall, researchers found that 1) programs valued the needs and input of the communities they served and tailored services to meet those needs; 2) programs faced implementation delays due to funding administration and COVID-19 challenges; 3) programs varied greatly in terms of data collection and evaluation capacity; 4) assessment and planning programs successfully brought together relevant stakeholders and service delivery programs were typically successful in meeting goals for clients served.

The creation of the Restore, Reinvest and Renew (R3) program marked an unprecedented milestone in the State of Illinois: a commitment to addressing decades of underinvestment and harm caused by the war on drugs. In January 2021, the First round of R3 funds provided $31.5 million to 80 grantees and their collaborative partners, providing services in the areas of civil legal aid, economic development, reentry, violence prevention, and youth development.

The Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act created the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) program, which reinvests a portion of cannabis tax revenue into communities experiencing high rates of gun injury, unemployment, child poverty, and incarceration. These grant funds support programming in five priority areas: civil legal aid, economic development, reentry services, violence prevention services, and youth development. Utilizing a mixed methods approach, researchers conducted site-specific process evaluations on the implementation and operations of select R3 grantees. Data sources varied by site, but included observations, interviews, surveys, focus groups, and administrative data. Overall, researchers found that 1) programs valued the needs and input of the communities they served and tailored services to meet those needs; 2) programs faced implementation delays due to funding administration and COVID-19 challenges; 3) programs varied greatly in terms of data collection and evaluation capacity; 4) assessment and planning programs successfully brought together relevant stakeholders and service delivery programs were typically successful in meeting goals for clients served. This article summarizes a larger report that further details the process evaluations.

Review applications for Illinois Restore, Reinvest, and Renew Program grants.

CHICAGO— Using revenue generated from adult-use cannabis sales, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) today announced 21 grants totaling $3.5 million to organizations offering young people and emerging adults (ages 10 to 25) prosocial activities that may reduce violence and victimization or provide increased street intervention this summer. Grant awards will support three months of programming, from July 1 to September 30.

Governor JB Pritzker and Lt. Governor Julianna Stratton today announced $45 million in Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) program funding to support community organizations that serve neighborhoods most impacted by economic disinvestment, violence, and the war on drugs.

Due to an unprecedented response to the R3 Notices of Funding Opportunity, ICJIA has extended the application deadlines to 2:00 p.m., on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. This extension will allow agencies more time to complete and submit their applications and address any technical issues that may arise.

Researchers conducted site-specific process evaluations on the implementation and operations of select R3 grant programs.

The Restore, Reinvest, and Renew grant deadline is just days away.

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is requesting proposals for funding under the R3 priorities of Youth Development/Violence Prevention. Grants will be made with SFY27 and SFY28 funds. A total of $15 million in funding in Restore, Reinvest, Renew (R3) is available through this solicitation for use over a period of 12 months.

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is requesting proposals for funding under the R3 priorities of Reentry/Economic Development/ Civil Legal Aid. Grants will be made with SFY27 and SFY28 funds. A total of $35 in funding in Restore, Reinvest, Renew (R3) is available through this solicitation for use over a period of 12 months.

Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Budget Committee Meeting

Thursday, February 26, 2026 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Two Locations:

1. Michael A. Bilandic Building, 160 N. LaSalle Street, Room N-502, Chicago, Illinois 60601

2. ICJIA Offices 524 South 2nd Street, Suite 220 Springfield, Illinois 62706

Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Budget Committee Meeting

Thursday, December 18, 2025 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Two Locations:

1. Michael A. Bilandic Building, 160 N. LaSalle Street, Room N-505, Chicago, Illinois 60601

2. ICJIA Offices 524 South 2nd Street, Suite 220 Springfield, Illinois 62706

Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Budget Committee Meeting

Thursday, July 31, 2025 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Two Locations:

1. Michael A. Bilandic Building 160 N. LaSalle St. Room N-502 Chicago, Illinois, 60601

2. ICJIA Offices 524 South 2nd Street, Suite 220 Springfield, Illinois 62706

Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Budget Committee Meeting

Thursday, April 17, 2025 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Two Locations:

1. 555 W. Monroe, Lincoln Room - 4th Floor Chicago, Illinois 60661

2. ICJIA Offices 524 South 2nd Street, Suite 220 Springfield, Illinois 62706

Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Budget Committee Meeting

Thursday, February 20, 2025 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Two Locations:

1. The Michael A. Bilandic Building 160 N. LaSalle St., Room N502 Chicago, Illinois 60661

2. ICJIA Offices 524 S. 2nd Street, Suite 220 Springfield, Illinois 62701

Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Budget Committee Meeting

Thursday, October 24, 2024 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Two Locations:

1. The Michael A. Bilandic Building 160 N. LaSalle St., Room N505 Chicago, Illinois 60661

2. ICJIA Offices 524 S. 2nd Street, Suite 220 Springfield, Illinois 62701

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is requesting proposals for grants for Service Delivery under the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Program. Grants will be made with SFY2025 funds. A total of $30 million in R3 funding is available through this solicitation for use over a period of 12 months.

Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Budget Committee Meeting

Thursday, December 14, 2023 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Two Locations:

1. Michael A. Bilandic Building 160 N. LaSalle St., Room N505 Chicago, Illinois 60601

2. Lincoln Tower Building 524 S. 2nd Street, 6th Floor (Illinois Department of Public Health) Springfield, Illinois 62701

This position serves as Restore, Reinvest and Renew(R3) Program Grant Manager, organizes, plans, executes, controls and evaluates the operations of the R3 Program grant funds; formulates and implements policy and procedures for the State appropriated grant funding (SAGF); develops, revises and updates the plans and applications for the awarding and expenditure of funds; serves as working supervisor; serves as a liaison with policy-making officials; oversees the distribution of grant information to candidates for the R3 Program; undertakes special project assigned by the Federal and State Grants Unit (FSGU) B Associate Director.

RESTORE, REINVEST, AND RENEW PROGRAM BOARD Regular Meeting Pursuant to § 10-40 of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (410 ILCS 705/)

Regular Meeting, Date and Time: Wednesday, January 18, 2023 | 10:00 - 11:30 AM

Thursday, October 27, 2022 10:00 - 11:30 AM Location Videoconference/Teleconference

Regular Meeting Pursuant to § 10-40 of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (410 ILCS 705/)

This meeting is cancelled.

RESTORE, REINVEST, AND RENEW PROGRAM BOARD, Regular Meeting

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is requesting proposals for grants for the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) program. Grants will be made with fiscal year 2023 funds made available to a trust fund established by The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. A total of $4,500,000 in funding is available through this solicitation for use over a period of 12 months from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023.

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is requesting proposals for grants for the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) program. Grants will be made with fiscal year 2023 funds made available to a trust fund established by The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. A total of $40,500,000 in funding is available through this solicitation for use over a period of 12 months from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023.

Regular Meeting

Videoconference/Teleconference

R3: Restore, Reinvest, Renew Program Board meeting, Oct 25, 2021

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is requesting proposals for Emergency Summer Violence Response Pilot grants. Grants will be made with SFY 22 Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) funds.

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is requesting proposals for grants for the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) program. Grants will be made with fiscal year 2021 funds made available to a trust fund established by The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. A total of $3,150,000 in funding is available through this solicitation for use over a period of approximately 9 months.

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is requesting proposals for grants for the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) program. Grants will be made with fiscal year 2021 funds made available to a trust fund established by The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. A total of $28,350,000 in funding is available through this solicitation for use over a period of approximately 9 months.

This report details findings related to scale and reach of Cohort One service delivery sites using administrative data submitted by Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3)-funded programs. Over 137,000 individuals were served and 369 new staff positions were created across Cohort One. Civil legal aid programs managed more than 2,400 cases, including expungements/sealings, evictions, and income/asset protection. Economic development programs managed more than 2,200 cases and provided services in workforce, business, and financial development. Reentry programs managed more than 4,600 cases and assisted individuals with workforce development, healthcare, housing, and legal issues. Violence prevention programs managed over 1,000 cases and assisted participants with workforce development, healthcare, and housing. Finally, youth development programs managed almost 1,400 cases and assisted youth in workforce development and education. Overall, across the five domains, a substantial number of Illinoisians were provided supports and services by R3-funded service delivery programs in Cohort One.

The Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act created the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) program, which reinvests a portion of cannabis tax revenue into communities experiencing high rates of gun injury, unemployment, child poverty, and incarceration. These grant funds support programming in five priority areas: civil legal aid, economic development, reentry services, violence prevention services, and youth development. Utilizing a mixed methods approach, researchers conducted site-specific process evaluations on the implementation and operations of select R3 grantees. Data sources varied by site, but included observations, interviews, surveys, focus groups, and administrative data. Overall, researchers found that 1) programs valued the needs and input of the communities they served and tailored services to meet those needs; 2) programs faced implementation delays due to funding administration and COVID-19 challenges; 3) programs varied greatly in terms of data collection and evaluation capacity; 4) assessment and planning programs successfully brought together relevant stakeholders and service delivery programs were typically successful in meeting goals for clients served. This article summarizes a larger report that further details the process evaluations.

The Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act created the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) program, which reinvests a portion of cannabis tax revenue into communities experiencing high rates of gun injury, unemployment, child poverty, and incarceration. These grant funds support programming in five priority areas: civil legal aid, economic development, reentry services, violence prevention services, and youth development. This report details site-specific process evaluations on the implementation and operations of select R3 grantees throughout Illinois. Researchers utilized a mixed methods approach and varied data sources by evaluation site. These sources included observations, interviews, surveys, focus groups, and administrative data. Overall, researchers found that 1) programs valued the needs and input of the communities they served and tailored services to meet those needs; 2) programs faced implementation delays due to funding administration and COVID-19 challenges; 3) programs varied greatly in terms of data collection and evaluation capacity; 4) assessment and planning programs successfully brought together relevant stakeholders and service delivery programs were typically successful in meeting goals for clients served.

The Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) program was created through the legalization of adult recreational cannabis use in Illinois. Program funds are used to reduce gun violence through intervention and prevention, improve re-entry and diversion services for people involved with the criminal justice system, provide access to legal representation and advice, encourage investment and economic growth, enhance youth development, and support programs that improve the social determinants of health. The current report details the R3 program implementation process (including grantmaking, grant review, and funding) during the program’s inaugural period of performance, June 25, 2019 to January 31, 2022. During the first round of funding, the R3 program received over 400 applications and funded 80 community-based programs.

The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act legalized adult-use cannabis in Illinois on January 1, 2020. In addition to limiting enforcement and prosecution of cannabis-related offenses and providing a source of state revenue, the Act established the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew grant program (R3). Administered by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA), R3 directs a significant portion of cannabis revenue toward building equity in communities that have been ravaged by violence and disproportionately impacted by historical criminal justice system overuse and economic disinvestment. This brief report highlights results of a feedback survey provided to R3 grant program applicants regarding their application experiences. Overall, survey respondents appeared satisfied with the process and offered recommendations to consider for improving future grant application cycles.