Belt encourages businesses in the Metro East to apply for B2B

EAST ST. LOUIS – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) is encouraging local businesses to apply for the second wave of Back to Business grants, which closes on Oct. 13.

“Throughout the pandemic, our small businesses have remained assets to the Metro East community, despite all the struggles they faced,” Belt said. “It’s important for us all to be gracious to those who showed up, and for those businesses to get the aid they deserve from our government.”

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New pay equity partnership will uplift working women in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – A $350,000 partnership between the Illinois Department of Labor and Women Employed will help low-income women across the state learn about pay equity and transparency laws, drawing praise from the Illinois Senate Women’s Caucus.

“This partnership will uplift working women and create a support network in every community across Illinois,” said State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights), co-chair of the Senate Women’s Caucus. “I am proud of the work Women Employed are doing to tear down barriers to economic parity.”

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Loughran Cappel urges residents to renew eligible professional licenses online

PLAINFIELD – State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) is urging residents to renew eligible professional licenses from the comfort of their own home.

Illinois residents can now renew certain professional licenses online. In addition, licensees’ renewal deadlines have been extended to Dec. 31, 2021.

“This is one small way that the State of Illinois is working to eliminate red tape and streamline the process to allow people to renew their professional licenses from the comfort of their own home,” Loughran Cappel said. “Please renew your licenses as soon as possible to avoid late fees and ensure you are up to date.”

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Labor chair Holmes announces improved security for state’s unemployment insurance benefit system

AURORA – The Illinois Department of Employment Security and Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology have launched a new identity verification and multi-factor authentication solution for IDES’ unemployment insurance benefits system, according to Assistant Majority Leader and Senate Labor Committee Chair Linda Holmes (D-Aurora).

“During the course of the pandemic, IDES experienced problems with security for the accounts and personal information of unemployed Illinoisans filing claims. States across the nation experienced fraud as unemployment hit unprecedented levels,” Holmes said. “This new ILogin system will strengthen existing protections for users and help the agency find and deal with fraudulent activity attempts.”

Read more: Labor chair Holmes announces improved security for state’s unemployment insurance benefit system