SPRINGFIELD – Many Southern Illinois communities will be receiving grants from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to help residents rehab their homes or help them with small repairs. A maximum of $450,000 in grant funds or $45,000 per household is available to improve the homes of low-to-moderate income residents of owner occupied single family housing units. Mt. Vernon is among several that will receive $450,000. Benton, Cambria and Sesser will also receive that amount. Spillertown and Jonesboro will each see $434,070, Creal Springs will receive $400,100, Anna will receive $397,800, Marion will get $361,530, Freeman Spur will see $301,790, and Carrier Mills will receive $245,700.  In all, 19 projects across the state were approved for funding totaling $7.23 million. The projects are funded by the Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The program is federally funded, but the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity administers the program.