Sidebar Menu
- Details
- Category: Senator Patrick Joyce News
PARK FOREST – State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) joins Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White to invite students in grades 4-12 to enter a statewide reading and writing competition known as “Letters About Literature in Illinois,” offered by the Illinois State Library’s Illinois Center for the Book.
“Literature is a powerful tool, and this is a wonderful opportunity for students to share their love for reading,” said Joyce. “I encourage students to participate in the competition and submit an entry.”
Read more: Joyce invites student readers to enter “Letters About Literature in Illinois” competition
- Details
- Category: Senator Patrick Joyce News
KANKAKEE – As small businesses face financial uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Park Forest) is encouraging business owners to apply for a Business Interruption Grant (BIG).
“Small businesses form the core of our community, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made it extremely difficult for some to survive,” Joyce said. “I encourage folks that have suffered significant losses to apply for aid through the BIG program to help them through these challenging times.”
Read more: Joyce reminds business owners to take advantage of Business Interruption Grant program
- Details
- Category: Senator Patrick Joyce News
JOLIET – To transition Illinois to a 100 percent clean energy economy, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) lent his support to the Climate Jobs Illinois (CJI) 10-point plan initiative, which will create thousands of jobs while reducing the state’s carbon emissions.
“With this plan as a starting point, Illinois moves one step closer toward a clean energy future,” said Joyce, a member of the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee. “I look forward to continuing to work with the coalition to create more jobs as our state transitions to a clean energy economy.”
The CJI plan comprises four main sectors: clean power generation; just transition and inclusion; building efficiency; and transportation. The plan outlines how the state can invest at scale in clean-energy infrastructure to maximize emissions reductions that will address the climate crisis while creating or sustaining thousands of union jobs and apprentice programs, particularly in areas hit hard by the economic crisis.
“We have to continue to stand up for our working class and ensure these folks have a voice,” Joyce said. “Now is the time to build on the progress we’ve made, especially for those who have been impacted by COVID-19 crisis.”
To read CJI’s full 10-point proposal, visit https://climatejobsillinois.org/our-work.
- Details
- Category: Senator Patrick Joyce News
PARK FOREST - In celebration of National Women’s Small Business Month, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) is encouraging residents to nominate local female business owners to recognize for their leadership and service to residents.
“This is a great time to celebrate the growth and accomplishments of female entrepreneurs, as well as raise awareness of the importance of women-owned businesses,” Joyce said. “My goal this month is to shine a spotlight on those businesses and business owners.”
- Details
- Category: Senator Patrick Joyce News
SOUTH WILMINGTON – The Village of South Wilmington will receive $162,000 in funding to improve the community’s drinking water quality as part of this year’s state budget for capital infrastructure improvements, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) announced Thursday.
“Maintaining a clean, reliable supply of drinking water is crucial for our rural communities,” said Joyce. “This funding comes at a critical time as we continue to mitigate the public health and financial impacts of COVID-19. This investment puts our community on track toward a modernized water infrastructure.”
Read more: Joyce unveils $162,000 in water infrastructure funding for South Wilmington
- Details
- Category: Senator Patrick Joyce News
PARK FOREST— To help businesses navigate the application process for the Business Interruption Grant (BIG) program, State Senator Patrick Joyce is urging business owners across the south suburbs to attend a free, informative webinar hosted by the Illinois Department of Economic Opportunity on Monday, Sept. 28 at 2 p.m.
“The BIG program will help our local businesses move one step closer to financial stability,” Joyce said. “I urge business owners to join this informative webinar to ensure they are completing their applications correctly and taking full advantage of available grants.”
Registration is required. Interested participants can click here to register.
Applications for Round 2 of the BIG program were launched last week. The latest round has allocated $220 million in assistance for movie theatres, performing arts venues, concert venues and other hard-hit businesses to help them stay afloat through this time of crisis and ensure they have the resources to open safely in the coming months.
The intention of the second round is to provide relief for all types of small businesses, with a focus on businesses located downstate and heavily distressed industries. Of the total funding, $70 million has been set aside for businesses in economically distressed communities that have been the most vulnerable to COVID-19.
“Small businesses are the back bone of our communities,” Joyce said. “During the pandemic, they have worked tirelessly to serve our communities and keep employees and customers safe. They have gone above and beyond to support us—I urge residents to return the favor and support them, too. Shop local as often as you can and please be patient, because we are all struggling to deal with this pandemic.”
Applications to the BIG program are open and can be found on the Illinois DCEO website. Joyce urges business owners who are unable to attend the Sept. 28 webinar to visit DECO’s website to sign up for another webinar or view a prerecorded version.
- Details
- Category: Senator Patrick Joyce News
PARK FOREST – State Senator Patrick Joyce wants to make sure residents are aware that expiration dates for Illinois driver’s licenses and IDs have been extended until Feb. 1, 2021. All expired driver’s licenses and IDs will remain valid until then.
“I want to thank Secretary Jesse White for his commitment to putting the health and safety of Illinoisans first,” Joyce said. “This extension will provide relief to many and help reduce the spread of COVID-19.”
The secretary of state’s office has repeatedly pushed back the deadline to renew expiring licenses since the pandemic began. The newly extended deadline will also cover driver’s licenses and ID cards set to expire in October, November, December and January.
Older adults age 75 and over have also had their driver’s license expiration dates extended by one year. The new expiration date is the motorist’s birthday in 2021.
“Extending expiration dates until February 1 means people with an expired driver’s license and ID card do not need to visit a Driver Services facility immediately,” said Secretary of State Jesse White. “During this pandemic, we continue to think creatively to serve the public as efficiently as possible, while making public health and safety our top priority.”
However, expiring license plate stickers will not be valid past the current Nov. 1 deadline, as they can easily be renewed online at www.cyberdriveillinois.com. Other common services, such as requesting a replacement or duplicate driver’s license or ID, are also available on the website.
“A lot of services can be completed online,” Joyce said. “This move will help reduce lines and cut down on overcrowding at our local offices for folks who have no choice but to go in.”
Illinois residents who must visit a driver services facility should be aware that they will be required to wear masks. They may also have to wait outside for an extended period of time to maintain social distancing and should take the weather into account when planning a visit.
For more information, visit www.cyberdriveillinois.com.
- Details
- Category: Senator Patrick Joyce News
PARK FOREST – State Senator Patrick Joyce is excited to announce that schools in the 40th Illinois State Senate District are set to receive nearly $2 million in funding to improve local students’ access to technology during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“E-learning is a new reality for many students during the pandemic,” Joyce said. “This funding will assist schools in giving students the resources they need to take an active role in their studies.”
The funds will be distributed to 14 schools in the 40th State Senate District:
- Bloom Township School District 206 – $195,442
- Bourbonnais School District 53 – $164,063
- Bradley- Bourbonnais Community High School District 307 – $143,067
- Bradley School District 61 – $103,252
- Chicago Heights School District 170 – $192,866
- Gardner School District 72C – $38,845
- Gardner-South Wilmington Township High School District 73 – $40,390
- Homewood-Flossmoor High School District 233 – $190,530
- Iroquois/Kankakee ROE School District – $37,324
- Kankakee School District 111 – $293,195
- Manhattan School District 114 – $118,740
- Park Forest - Chicago Heights School District 163 –$123,021
- Safe Schools - Iroquois/Kankakee ROE School District – $30,594
- Anne Community High School District 256 – $46,676
The Digital Equity Formula Grants, funded by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, are intended to help schools expand connectivity and provide students with devices like computers or tablets. Funding was distributed using a need-based formula.
“We must continue to work together to ensure every child, regardless of their zip code, receives the support they need to be successful,” Joyce said.
For more information about COVID-19 and education, visit isbe.net/covid19.
More Articles ...
- Parkhurst, Joyce herald opening of Kankakee State Park Potawatomi Campground
- Joyce, DeLuca to host Secretary of State mobile unit event in Chicago Heights
- Joyce promotes hazardous waste collection event at Kankakee Community College
- Joyce announces Will and Kankakee Counties will receive economic recovery grants
Follow ILSenDems
SPRINGFIELD OFFICE
(217) 782-2728
327 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
 © 2020 Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus    |
CHICAGO OFFICE
(312) 814-2075
160 N. LaSalle St., Ste. 720
Chicago, IL 60601