EAST ST. LOUIS – As the deadline to complete the 2020 census quickly approaches, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) is hosting a school supplies giveaway and census drive on Saturday, Sept 12, to help more families get counted.   

"Residents in the community need to understand the amount of resources and federal funding that are put at risk if they are not counted," Belt said. "This is the last month to fill out the 2020 Census and it’s important every person is counted. I hope families come out to receive school supplies for the upcoming semester and also get counted to ensure we have all the funding we need for the next 10 years."

Belt is hosting a free mask and school giveaway with Representative Latoya Greenwood. Parents will be able to pick up school supplies for their children, receive help filling out their census forms and registering to vote. The event will be held at East St. Louis Senior High School Parking Lot, located at 4901 State Street from 10 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. 

The deadline to complete the 2020 census is Sept.30, and many Metro East communities response rates are critically low. The response rate in East St. Louis is 45%, Venice 43.9%, Washington Park 32.5% and Brooklyn only 39.8%. Census data determines federal funding for many community resources. 

To increase those  response rates, Belt is also hosting a Census Drive at Saint Mark School, located at 502 Broadway in Venice, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Families who are unable to attend either event can still get counted by filling out the form at https://my2020census.gov.

CENTREVILLE — To increase awareness of economic development in underserved communities, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) announced Madison will receive a grant through the Fast-Track Public Infrastructure Capital program. 

“Communities that are disadvantaged needed financial assistance long before the pandemic, which is why this investment is so vital for economic inclusion,” Belt said. “I want to thank Governor Pritzker for continuing to prioritize communities with the greatest needs.”

The Fast Track program was created by the state to provide emergency assistance for businesses and communities facing economic hardship during the COVID-19 public health crisis. Currently, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has launched more than $300 million in emergency relief programs, with most of the funding available for businesses. 

The city of Madison was awarded $635,050 for maintenance building construction. The funding for the Fast Track program is through the Illinois statewide construction plan, known as Rebuild Illinois. Eligible applicants were required to prove projects were located in an undeserved area, had Business Enterprise Program inclusion plans, and could start within 90 days after being awarded. 

To find out other cities that have been awarded the Fast-Track grant, click here. 

EAST ST. LOUIS – With so many small business owners facing economic hardship as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) announced 25 local businesses will receive a combined $430,000 through the Business Interruption Grant program.

“I’m glad to see many local small businesses took advantage of this grant opportunity to receive some financial relief from this pandemic,” Belt said. “I understand it will take more than a grant for many of these businesses to fully recover. However, this is still a great step in helping the regrowth of these businesses.” 

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity awarded a total of $46 million to 2,655 small businesses in the first round of BIG funding. The BIG program offers grants to Illinois restaurants and bars, barbershops and salons, and fitness centers that have suffered pandemic-related losses, with a focus on businesses in the hardest-hit areas of the state.

First round grants range from $10,000 to $20,000 and may be used to help businesses with working capital expenses, including payroll costs, rent and utilities. The funds may also be used to cover pandemic-related expenses, such as PPE, training and new technology.

To ensure ongoing support for Illinois small businesses, the State of Illinois has planned future rounds of funding, including a special program for child care providers. The application deadline for this program is Aug. 14.

The BIG program is the largest state-run economic support program formed in response to the COVID-19 economic downturn. The full list of grant recipients is available here.

Lawmakers concerned by low response rates in St. Clair County

EAST ST. LOUIS – With time running out to count households and St. Clair county recording low response rates, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) and State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) encourage Metro East residents to complete the 2020 Census. 

“We have to fill out the census before it's too late,” Belt said. “This simple action determines so much about the resources provided to our community. This is the first step in solving injustices, in public health, racial equity and even law enforcement. The Census Bureau needs the most accurate data in order to help us help ourselves.”

“To ensure our region is counted efficiently and allotted the necessary federal aid, every household is responsible for completing the census,” Crowe said. “If your household has responded, you can help by talking to your family members, friends and neighbors about how simple it is. It takes minutes to complete and makes a difference in our communities for years to come.”

Seven municipalities in St. Clair County and one in Madison County have a rate of 49.9% or lower on the statewide response rate list. The cities and villages included by name and rate listed are:

• Washington Park – 31.4%
• Brooklyn – 39.1%
• Venice (Madison County) – 41.9%
• Alorton – 43.1%
• East St. Louis – 44.2%
• Centreville – 49.4%
• Fairmont City – 49.7%
• Cahokia – 49.9%

Residents can complete the census for their household at www.my2020census.gov.