BUNKER HILL – State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) announced an open application period for the second round of Connect Illinois broadband grants to improve access to quality broadband service Downstate.

Manar, who serves as a chief budget negotiator for the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus and chairs the Senate Appropriations II Committee, played an instrumental role in this program’s inclusion in the state budget.

“We made broadband expansion a part of the Rebuild Illinois plan because we were fully aware of the glaring gap in access to quality broadband services for many Downstaters,” Manar said. “The COVID-19 pandemic shed light on these already existing problems and made them exponentially worse.”

BUNKER HILL – To ensure local first responders have the equipment necessary to keep residents safe, State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) is encouraging fire departments and ambulance services to apply for the Office of the State Fire Marshal’s Small Equipment Grant Program.

Manar, who serves as Chair of the Senate Appropriations II Committee, cemented this annual program’s funding during last spring’s budget negotiations.

“It’s no secret that rural fire departments and ambulance services are continuously underfunded,” Manar said. “I saw a clear need to help first responders everywhere afford the equipment necessary to save lives, and that’s why I fought to include this program in the state budget.”

The program was created to help Illinois fire departments and not-for-profit ambulance services that struggle to afford necessary equipment do their jobs.

In June, the Small Equipment Grant Program awarded $3.5 million to 154 fire departments and EMS providers. Applicants can also apply for personal infection control items such as masks, gowns and gloves.

“Our first responders have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic since day one,” Manar said. “This is simply one small way of reaffirming our dedication to the women and men who continue serving their neighbors.”

Most Illinois fire departments, fire protection districts and township fire departments are eligible to apply. Stand-alone, not-for-profit ambulance service providers are eligible to apply as well.

For more information, visit the state fire marshal’s website.

GILLESPIE – The Illinois Coal Museum at Gillespie has been awarded a $33,800 grant for projects that include upgrades to the museum’s exterior, structure and signage, State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) announced Thursday.

Manar, who serves as Chair of the Senate Appropriations II Committee, was a driving force behind funding this project.

“The coal industry is part of our rich history in Macoupin County. In many ways, it made us who we are today.” Manar said. “Those stories deserve to be preserved and told to generations to come, and I’m proud to have advocated for funding these crucial renovations to the Illinois Coal Museum at Gillespie in the state budget.”

The grant was awarded through the Illinois Public Museum Capital Grants Program, made possible by Rebuild Illinois, the historic, bipartisan multi-year statewide construction program passed by the legislature and signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker in 2019.

“We opened this museum four years ago with the intention of providing a magnet for tourism in Gillespie, while also preserving the history of the coal industry in Illinois,” Ald. Dave Tucker, who serves as Chairman of the museum’s Board of Directors, said. “This grant money allows us to proceed with renovations that keep us in lock-step with the current revitalization project in downtown Gillespie, while also maintaining the museum’s status as our crown jewel.”

In all, 43 museums received a total of $22.8 million in funds. The Illinois Public Museum Capital Grants Program is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and is open to any museum operated by local government or located on municipally-owned land.

Manar credits the dedicated volunteers of the Coal Museum for their continued work and vision that has made the museum a success: “I want people to know that the state supports Gillespie and Macoupin County. Along with the recently announced $1 million grant to renovate Macoupin Street, I am proud to support the good thing happening in Gillespie, and I will continue to work to make sure the towns of Macoupin County get the support they need for critical projects from State government.”

SPRINGFIELD – In response to the passing of former Gillespie Mayor Howard Carney, State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) filed a resolution in the Illinois Senate to honor his life and service to Gillespie and Macoupin County.

A retired coal mine manager for Monterey Coal Co., Howard Carney was civic-minded with deep roots in his community. He served the City of Gillespie as an Alderman for eight years and as mayor for 20 years. He was a graduate of Gillespie High School, loved fishing and enjoyed being with his family.

“Mayor Carney’s public service was a testament to what providing for others and your community is all about,” Manar said. “While he spent 28 years dedicated to his neighbors as an official elected, anyone who knew him knows that his service to Gillespie was lifelong.”

Manar, the former mayor of Bunker Hill, said he recognizes the difficult work that local elected officials must tackle.  “Serving as mayor is a challenging task. Many times, it is a thankless job. But, Mayor Carney understood the importance of serving his community and did it for nearly three decades.  That is something we should all celebrate and recognize.”

When the Illinois Senate reconvenes, Manar will present the resolution to the full chamber. 

BUNKER HILL – Continuing his efforts to close the broadband gap, State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) announced the availability of three programs to improve access to internet services Downstate.

Manar, who chairs the Senate Appropriations II Committee and serves as a lead budget negotiator for the Illinois Senate Democrats, has long advocated for the modernization of high-speed internet infrastructure in Downstate communities.

SPRINGFIELD– The City of Springfield was named a recipient of a $3.5 million grant to improve its mass transit system, State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) announced Friday.

Manar, who chairs the Senate Appropriations II Committee and serves as a lead budget negotiator for the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus, worked to prioritize mass transit systems in the landmark, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois statewide construction plan.

ASSUMPTION – To improve the city’s water system, Assumption has been named a recipient of a low-interest $877,249 loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s State Revolving Fund, State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) announced Thursday.

Manar, who chairs the Senate Appropriations II Committee and serves as a lead budget negotiator for the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus, advocated for this loan during last spring’s budget-making process.

“I’ve always said, ‘Small towns deserve good things too,’ and that’s why last spring I fought to fund these crucial projects in places like Assumption,” Manar said. “Regular maintenance of water systems is something that can easily be taken for granted but must not be overlooked.”

Through this loan, which is eligible for forgiveness, the City of Assumption will install a system for nitrate removal, a phosphate feed system, replace all active water meters, and replace undersized water main. If the loan is forgiven, it would not need to be paid back.

“I truly commend Senator Manar and his dedication to working with IEPA and Assumption so that we can have safe drinking water and an infrastructure in place for decades to come,” Assumption Alderman Derek Page said. “These funds made it necessary that the city won’t have to raise rates and make water bills more burdensome than they already are.”

Illinois EPA’s State Revolving Fund includes two loan programs, the Water Pollution Control Loan Program (WPCLP) which funds both sewer and stormwater projects, and the Public Water Supply Loan Program (PWSLP) for drinking water projects.

Funding for this loan is provided through the bipartisan Rebuild Illinois statewide construction plan.

SPRINGFIELD – As many businesses continue to struggle through the COVID-19 pandemic, State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) is reminding small business owners to apply for the second round of Business Interruption Grants, a key piece of the State of Illinois’ pandemic response effort.

Manar, the Senate Appropriations II Committee Chair, played a key role in securing funding for this program during last spring’s budget negotiations.

“Crafting a budget to keep our state afloat during a period of sustained economic devastation requires difficult decisions, but throughout the process I remained steadfast that our small business community had to be prioritized,” Manar said. “We aren’t out of the woods yet, and that means we must continue taking every opportunity to infuse dollars into small businesses so that they live to see the end of this.”

Applications for the second round of the Business Interruption Grants (BIG) program are available now and will offer $220 million in funds for small businesses hit hardest by the ongoing pandemic.

The second wave of funds from BIG aims to provide relief for all types of small businesses, with a focus on businesses located downstate and in disproportionately impacted areas. Application information for the second round of funds and can be found on DCEO’s website at Illinois.gov/dceo.