CHICAGO – To help offset financial losses amid the pandemic, Assistant Majority Leader Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) is pleased to learn 32 businesses in the district she represents have received financial assistance from the Business Interruption Grant (BIG) program, and she is encouraging more to apply.

“The small business community is among the hardest hit by the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Martinez said. “These funds will support operating costs while they adjust to mitigation and ensure their employees are compensated appropriately.”

In the district Martinez represents, 32 businesses received a combined total of more than $1.1 million in grants. Each business received between $5,000 and $150,000 to be used to help cover the costs of payroll, rent, utilities and other working capital during the time they have experienced interruptions due to the pandemic. 

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity awarded the grants this week, as part of the second round of the BIG program. However, applications will remain open until all of the funding is spent. 

“Although these grants will offset some costs, nothing compares to the support of the community,” Martinez said. “I encourage residents to continue to shop at their local small businesses, especially when planning for the holidays.”

The BIG program is the largest state-run economic support program formed in response to the financial losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications are available on DCEO’s website. 

For a complete list of awardees, click here.

CHICAGO – Assistant Majority Leader Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) is excited to announce the Illinois Department of Transportation is investing over $2 million to repair more than five miles of Pulaski Road.

“By investing in our state’s infrastructure, Illinois is supporting working families and residents who depend on reliable transportation,” Martinez said. “It’s also creating construction jobs at a time when our economic future needs a strong push forward.”

The $2.87 million investment will cover two separate stretches of Pulaski Road – one running from Devon Avenue to Barry Avenue and one from Diversey Avenue to North Avenue, for a total of 5.69 miles.

The Pulaski upgrades are part of IDOT’s multi-year plan to maintain and expand Illinois’ transportation infrastructure. Another area project scheduled for the upcoming year involves preserving more than two miles of Montrose Avenue.

CHICAGO – With workers facing high rates of unemployment, Assistant Majority Leader Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) encouraged local organizations who work in the area of youth unemployment to take advantage of the extended Aug. 3 application deadline for the Illinois Youth Investment Program.

“Many of our newest workers are surviving paycheck to paycheck as the pandemic continues,” Martinez said. “For organizations that support underserved young people, these grants are an opportunity to help more those who need it the most.”

The Illinois Youth Investment Program, administered by the Department of Human Services, supports at-risk youth who are seeking long-term career employment. Providers interested in serving young people in their area can apply for grants online at DHS’ website.

Grants are awarded to providers who can assist at-risk youth with short-term, long-term and industry-specific career development opportunities. In addition to employment support, IYIP also provides participants with support services for their physical, emotional, social and mental health needs. Questions about IYIP and other DHS grants can be answered online or by calling 800-843-6154.

CHICAGO – To help Illinois families pay their electric bills during the pandemic, Assistant Majority Leader Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) is highlighting a new support package from ComEd and the Illinois Commerce Commission.

“With unemployment numbers at a record high and rising every day, residents need assistance with utility bills,” Martinez said. “Hopefully, these measures can provide relief for families struggling to keep the lights on.”

The package includes a number of provisions to help customers get back on their feet, including an extension of ComEd’s current policy suspending disconnections until the state moves to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan or Aug. 1, 2020, whichever comes first. Residential and small business customers will have an additional 30-day grace period, during which time ComEd will not disconnect service for nonpayment.

Low-income households earning less than 150% of the federal poverty level are eligible for financial assistance for past-due balances. Under this package, customers will have more flexible payment options, including longer payment plans, and ComEd will waive reconnection fees and new deposit requirements for residential customers.

These new supports supplement relief measures ComEd has already put in place, like budget billing options, grants and debt assistance.

“Working families are struggling in many ways throughout the pandemic,” Martinez said. “It’s reassuring to see companies helping people get back on their feet.”

Customers who are struggling to pay their outstanding balances and electric bills are encouraged to contact ComEd’s customer care team as soon as possible at (800) 334-7661, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. More information is also available at ComEd.com/CARE.

CHICAGO – To recruit and retain quality educators at city schools, Chicago Public Schools will receive a $200,000 grant from the Illinois State Board of Education to support teacher residencies, Assistant Majority Leader Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) announced Thursday.

“Although teachers have always played a vital role in our communities by educating our youth, we’ve really seen a wave of appreciation and support due to the extra sacrifices and hard work educators have exhibited during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Martinez said. “Encouraging more people to join the teaching profession and investing in residency programs is an important step to offer the opportunity to inspired, educated individuals considering making a career change.”

Teacher residency programs offer an alternative to the traditional teacher preparation experience. In partnership with state-recognized higher education institutions that have approved teacher preparation programs, residency programs provide clinical experience alongside mentor teachers, while also providing additional staffing in high-need areas.

ISBE is accepting applications for the next round of Teacher Residency Planning Grants. The grant application is open to local education agencies that serve high numbers of students of color or low-income students, or have a high demand for new teachers.

Interested applicants can learn more about the grants and apply here.

CHICAGO – In recognition of the vast economic devastation the COVID-19 outbreak continues to have on underserved communities, Assistant Majority Leader Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) is relieved by the investments made for students, business owners and seniors in next year’s budget, which the governor signed into law Wednesday.

“Because of our state’s current fiscal responsibilities, this budget recognizes Illinois’ commitment to funding essential services for students, employees and seniors,” Martinez said. “By providing vital resources, the state is supporting our residents who need the most help in response to the pandemic.”

The FY 21 budget:

•       Continues to fulfill the state’s commitment to fully fund P-12 and higher education, with an additional $12.7 million going to the Illinois State Board of Education,

•       Appropriates over $600 million in funding for businesses impacted by COVID-19, with grants and other resources specifically for daycare providers and underserved communities,

•       Provides an additional $201.7 million to the Illinois Department on Aging and $28 million in new money to the Community Care Program, which supports seniors who live independently in their homes, and

•       Allocated an additional $32 million in funding for services to immigrant welcoming centers to help recent immigrants get the COVID-19-related help they need.

Another priority of the Illinois Latino Legislative Caucus was passed in the FY 21 budget, which included expanding Medicaid eligibility to low-income undocumented people over 65 years old.

“Expanding Medicaid coverage to undocumented seniors is an additional resource to allow them to prioritize their health and security — not just for themselves and their families, but from financial devastation in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Martinez said. “Once testing positive, residents should only be worrying about recovery, not about the financial burden related to medical bills.”

In addition, the budget appropriates nearly $60 million in funding to the Department of Employment Security to address the challenges with the unemployment system, allowing the department to hire more staff for assistance on claims.

The FY 21 budget is effective July 1, 2020.

CHICAGO — More scams are popping up as a result of the novel coronavirus outbreak, and Assistant Majority Leader Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) urges people to be careful when responding to requests for money or personal information.
 
“We can all understand the desire to help others during this time, but I can’t stress the importance of using extreme caution when giving personal information over the phone or computer,” Martinez said.
 
Attorney General Kwame Raoul said attorneys general from across the nation have seen an increase in reports of people posing as charitable organizations or public health agencies. Those scams, according to Raoul, include cyber scams, telephone and text messaging scams, counterfeit product offers, bogus door-to-door offers of tests and products related to the coronavirus and solicitations for donations to phony charities.
 
Some of the most common scams seen by Raoul include:
 
•   Emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and other health care organizations, offering to share information about the virus;
 
•   Emails asking for the verification of personal data, including Medicare or Medicaid information, in exchange for receiving economic stimulus funds or other benefits from the government;
 
•   Email phishing scams, text messages from unknown sources which may include hyperlinks to what appear to be automated pandemic updates, or interactive infection maps;
 
•   COVID-19 vaccinations and home test kits that are made online, in stores, through electronic messages or over the phone.
 
For more information or to report scams connected to COVID-19, please visit the attorney general’s website: https://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/​. 

SPRINGFIELD – Assistant Majority Leader Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) is advancing an initiative to classify crimes against individuals based on their actual or perceived citizenship or immigration status as hate crimes.

“Hate crime laws are intended to protect individuals against biased crimes,” Martinez said. “Expanding the definition to include citizenship or immigration status is necessary to defend immigrants against senseless, discriminatory crimes.”

Under current law, crimes by reason against people of an actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or national origin of another individual or group of individuals are considered hate crimes.

The measure seeks to add citizenship or immigration status to the list of qualifications.

Senate Bill 2345 passed the Senate Criminal Law Committee and moves for further consideration before the full Senate.