GURNEE– In an effort to help young adults find jobs during the pandemic, State Senator Terry Link (D-Indian Creek) supported the Illinois Department of Human Services’ COVID-19 Summer Youth Employment Program, which provides employment opportunities for youth in the community.

“The Summer Youth Employment Program will help young adults find a job during this pandemic,” Link said. “This program provides our youth with job training, life skills and meaningful work experience that will lay down a strong foundation for their future.”

The state has dedicated $9.3 million to the program to employ low-income youth living in areas most affected by the pandemic.

Employee Connections is one of 30 youth employment providers that will receive $500,000 to employ 100 youth workers. Employees are matched with work-based learning opportunities based on their age, ability and experience, and will take part in career development training. 

For more information about Employee Connections, contact Cynthia Harris at 847-360-7177 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

INDIAN CREEK – State Senator Terry Link (D-Indian Creek) is encouraging local business owners to apply for forgivable loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program.

“This pandemic has put an unprecedented financial strain on small business owners,” Link said. “The Paycheck Protection Program provides them with another tool they can use to help them stay afloat during these uncertain times. I highly encourage any business owners who are struggling to apply.”

The U.S. Treasury Department and the Small Business Administration have extended the application deadline for the Paycheck Protection Program to allow more businesses to seek financial relief. Businesses can receive up to $10 million in forgivable loans through the program.

The loans provided through the program have an interest rate of 1% and can be fully forgiven if they are used for payroll, rent, utilities or interest on mortgages.

The deadline to apply in Aug. 8, 2020.

According to the Small Business Administration, more than 27,000 Illinois businesses have taken advantage of the program, saving an estimated 1.36 million jobs.

To find participating lenders, business owners and managers can visit the Small Business Administration’s website.

SPRINGFIELD – A new measure backed by State Senator Terry Link (D-Indian Creek) that would help ensure Illinois voters can safely participate in the November 2020 General Election was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker today.

“With the possibility COVID-19 will still be a problem in our state in the fall, it’s critical that we ensure voters can participate in the election, even if they do not feel safe going to their usual polling place,” Link said.

Senate Bill 1863 expands Illinois’ vote-by-mail program for the 2020 General Election. Under the new law, anyone who has voted in the last two years will receive a vote-by-mail application. New voters registering online may also automatically request a vote-by-mail ballot rather than having to apply.

The measure also establishes Election Day, November 3, 2020 as a holiday for Illinois schools and universities. Some schools and universities will be used as polling locations and will be properly cleaned before students and staff return.

The law further allows election authorities to establish a curb-side voting program and extends early voting hours at polling locations.

“We can’t allow the novel coronavirus infringe on anyone’s ability to exercise their democratic right,” Link said. “This law will help ensure every eligible voter can participate in our process.”

Senate Bill 1863 takes effect immediately.

NORTH CHICAGO – North Chicago CUSD 187 will receive a $200,000 grant from the Illinois State Board of Education to implement teacher residencies, State Senator Terry Link (D-Indian Creek) announced Thursday.

“Illinois is facing a teacher shortage, and it’s essential that we provide school districts with all the tools available to recruit and retain qualified teachers,” Link said. “Teacher residency programs provide yet another pathway to help schools ensure they can put high-quality teachers in classrooms.”

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.

The State Board of Education is also now 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.

For more information or to apply, visit https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Educator-Effectiveness-Grants.aspx.

INDIAN HILLS – The state budget signed into law today by Gov. JB Pritzker preserves essential services that Illinoisans need most during the COVID-19 pandemic, State Senator Terry Link (D-Indian Hills) says.

“We returned to Springfield last month to ensure our state’s most important resources remain available for its residents, and that’s what’s in this budget,” Link said. “People are struggling, and now isn’t the time to make cuts that would eliminate services – not when people need them most.”

Illinois’ Fiscal Year 2021 budget includes full funding for P-12 education, a total investment of $12.6 billion. That includes $7.2 billion for the state’s evidence-based funding system, ensuring that school districts won’t be receiving less in state funding than last year.

The budget also holds funding flat for the state’s public colleges and universities, ensuring they won’t be forced to make steep cuts and eliminate services. 

Further, the spending plan once again makes Illinois’ full required pension payment.

“This budget provides stability in the face of the unprecedented challenges the people of Illinois are facing as a result of COVID-19,” Link said. “I’m glad we were able to retain critical services that will help Illinois residents cope with this pandemic.”

WAUKEGAN – A new drive-thru COVID-19 testing facility in Waukegan is now open to area residents, State Senator Terry Link (D-Indian Creek) announced.

“It remains critical that we continue to test as many individuals as possible to help us better understand the presence of this virus in Lake County and help limit its spread,” Link said. “If you are experiencing COVID-like symptoms, I highly encourage you to stop by this new site and get tested.”

The new Waukegan testing site is located at 2161 Northwestern Avenue in Waukegan and will be open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. while supplies last.

WAUKEGAN – State Senator Terry Link (D-Indian Creek) applauded Medline Industries’ decision to temporarily close its Waukegan sterilization plant while working to decrease ethylene oxide emissions.

“It’s clear just how dangerous exposure to ethylene oxide can be,” Link said. “I’m glad to see that Medline is taking the health consequences of people who live near the plant seriously.”

The company announced Tuesday that it will temporarily halt sterilization operations at the Waukegan facility to install nearly $10 million worth of upgrades to comply with new state laws regulating ethylene oxide.

SPRINGFIELD – A bipartisan measure to consolidate most police and firefighter pension funds throughout the state passed the Illinois Senate Thursday with support from State Senator Terry Link (D-Indian Creek).

“This proposal retains benefits while also making our system more productive and efficient,” Link said. “The pension crisis is one of the biggest issues we’ve been dealing with in this state for years, and the legislation we passed today marks a major step toward solving that problem.”

Senate Bill 1300 would consolidate all of the state’s nearly 650 police and firefighter pension funds outside of Chicago into two individual and separate funds over a 30-month transition period.