CHICAGO – State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) is encouraging uninsured and underinsured Illinoisans to visit the Affordable Care Act Marketplace during the open enrollment period, which runs from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15.

“Everyone needs and deserves health insurance,” Villanueva said. “This is the time of year when you can go to the ACA Marketplace and find or change insurance if you don’t have an employer-sponsored plan and you don’t qualify for Medicaid.”

This year, Illinoisans will be able to choose from 179 plans from eight insurance providers. There are also tax credits available to help lower-income residents reduce their monthly payments and find affordable coverage.

CHICAGO – Nearly a dozen local businesses in the district State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) represents was awarded financial relief through the state’s Business Interruption Grant program. Now, she’s urging even more businesses to apply.

“I am pleased many businesses in the district took advantage of the assistance, and hope more will continue to do so,” Villanueva said. “These grants will go a long way to help struggling businesses keep their doors open.”

Eleven businesses in the district Villanueva represents received a combined $360,000. 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. Villanueva encourages any small business in need to apply. Priority funding will be given to businesses located in areas with increased mitigation efforts.

“This pandemic had been especially tough on Latinx and Black communities – who already have fewer resources during a non-pandemic time,” Villanueva said. “Any business who still needs assistance is encouraged to apply as soon as possible.”

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.

Villanueva: fondos de asistencia a negocios pequeños ayudarán a mantener una comunidad vibrante  

CHICAGO – Casi una docena de negocios en el distrito que representa la senadora Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) recibieron asistencia financiera del Programa Estatal para la Interrupción de Negocios. Ahora, la senadora invita a que más negocios soliciten los fondos.

“Estoy complacida de que tantos negocios en mi distrito hayan aprovechado la ayuda y espero que otros más lo hagan en el futuro,” dijo Villanueva. “Estos recursos harán una gran diferencia para contribuir a los negocios que enfrentan retos financieros mantengan sus puertas abiertas.”

Once negocios en el distrito que representa Villanueva recibieron en conjunto $360,000. Cada establecimiento recibió entre $5,000 y $150,000, que deben ser usados para pagar la nómina, renta, servicios y otros gastos durante el tiempo en que han alterado su funcionamiento por la pandemia.

El Departamento de Comercio y Oportunidad Económica de Illinois otorgó estos fondos esta semana como parte de la segunda ronda del Programa BIG. Sin embargo, la solicitud de fondos sigue abierta hasta que todos los recursos sean usados. Villanueva invita a todos los negocios pequeños que lo necesiten a que presenten su solicitud. Se dará prioridad a los establecimientos ubicados en áreas donde se implementan más medidas de mitigación para evitar contagios de COVID-19.

“La pandemia ha sido especialmente dura con la comunidad Latinx y afroamericana -quienes de por sí tenían menos recursos antes de la crisis sanitaria,” dijo Villanueva. “Todos los negocios que requieran apoyo deben solicitar estos fondos lo antes posible.”

El Programa BIG, es el programa de apoyo económico estatal más grande que fue diseñado para responder a las pérdidas causadas por la pandemia de COVID-19. La solicitud de fondos está disponible en el sitio de internet del DCEO en esta liga.   

Saturday event at Second Federal Self-Help Credit Union cancelled

CHICAGO – State Senator Celina Villanueva is joining with other local elected officials and businesses for a candy giveaway today, Friday, Oct. 30 in an effort to create a safer environment to distribute candy to children for the Halloween holiday.

A Little Village trick-or-treating event previously scheduled for Saturday at the Second Federal Self-Help Credit Union has been cancelled, and today’s candy giveaway is taking its place.

CHICAGO – State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) is encouraging local businesses and non-profits to apply for newly available Connect Illinois grants to help expand broadband to underserved communities.

“You have to have reliable, affordable internet access to participate in the world we live in today – whether it’s for work, to apply for government assistance, or even to access education or health care,” Villanueva said. “These grants can help make internet more affordable for low-income families who need it to help improve their situations.”

The first round of Connect Illinois grants jumpstarted the process of providing improved access to high-speed internet for approximately 26,000 businesses, households, and other institutions throughout the state.

The second round of Connect Illinois grants will allow for up to $5 million per project and calls for a matching component, which requires companies, non-profits, and local governments that apply to dedicate funding that will accelerate the delivery of broadband investments. 

“Too many people think of broadband internet access as a purely rural issue,” Villanueva said. “It isn’t. Lower-income households – particularly Brown and Black families – in the city and suburbs also struggle to find affordable internet access.”

Funding for the Connect Illinois program is made possible through Rebuild Illinois, the state’s historic $45 billion statewide construction program, which dedicates $420 million to broadband infrastructure.

The application for this round of grants will remain open through February 2021. More information on this grant program can be found on the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s website.

CHICAGO – The state released $46 million in Business Interruption Grants to more than 2,500 local businesses in the first round of the program, which is intended to help businesses hit especially hard by pandemic-related closures and restrictions. State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) is urging more business owners to apply for the next round.

“I was happy to see more than 50% of this round of grants go to businesses owned by people of color in particularly hard hit areas,” Villanueva said. “These grants will go a long way to help businesses struggling from the COVID-19 outbreak, especially for the many business owners who couldn’t qualify for federal aid in communities like the one I represent.”

In the 11^th Senate District, 42 businesses received $770,000 in aid. First round BIG grants range from $10,000 to $20,000 and will be used to help businesses cover payroll costs, rent and utilities. The funds may also be used to cover pandemic-related expenses, such as masks and other protective equipment, training, and new technology. Recipients were selected via a random lottery.

Before the next round of grants, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is providing technical assistance to support entrepreneurs who need help applying, especially in communities of colors. They will work through community partners, including the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition, The Resurrection Project, and the Chicago Urban League.

“We all know the truth is the pandemic has hit Latinx and Black communities especially hard, especially in the city,” Villanueva said. “Businesses in our communities often have less resources and less experience navigating government programs. I urge local businesses who need help to work with these community navigators to apply for the next round of grants.”

DCEO expects to launch the next round of applications soon.

CHICAGO – To bring more students into the education field, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) announced that Farragut Career Academy High School will receive state funding to develop teaching programs.

“Students deserve teachers and role models that have shared lived experiences,” Villanueva said. “Bolstering Farragut Academy’s teaching program will prepare young people in Little Village for a career that will make a lasting impact on their community.”

The Illinois State Board of Education awarded the City of Chicago Public Schools Education for Employment system a $237,000 grant that will be distributed between four high schools to develop Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs focused on careers in education, including Farragut Career Academy High School.

CTE programs help students develop technical and employability skills to enable them to pursue higher education opportunities and succeed in the workforce. Students in CTE programs may also earn dual credit or credentials and certifications from partner institutions prior to high school graduation.

The programs will emphasize recruiting underrepresented students into education careers to help meet the high demand for teachers of color across Illinois.

Nearly $2 million in total funding has been awarded to 11 Education for Employment Systems statewide to recruit and support future educators at 62 high schools and vocational centers across the state. For a full list of grant recipients or to learn more about career and college readiness programs in Illinois, visit www.ISBE.net/CTE.

CHICAGO – After President Trump released a memorandum that calls for an unprecedented change that would exclude undocumented residents from the U.S. Census, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) released the following statement:

“Both citizens and non-citizens have been included in the official count since the first U.S. Census. The purpose of the census is to count all residents, regardless of status, so that the communities they live in receive adequate resources and accurate representation.

CHICAGO – State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) announced that two local adult literacy programs will receive a combined total of $105,000 in state funds. The Secretary of State issued these grants as part of his Adult Literacy Grant program.

“Community organizations and local colleges offer adults the opportunity to expand their reading and English language skills,” Villanueva said. “Funding these programs is essential to the success of our community. I encourage anyone looking to hone these skills to join one of these programs.”

More than 13,500 students will be served by adult literacy programs throughout Illinois. Supported by $5.6 million in state funds, the programs will depend on nearly 6,000 volunteer tutors to provide skills training for students, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. Adult literacy projects are focused on improving reading, writing and math and are targeted at Illinois adults who read below the 9th-grade level or speak English at a beginning level.

The PODER Learning Center in the West Lawn neighborhood of Chicago was awarded a grant of $75,000. Morton College in Cicero was awarded a grant of $30,000.

“As an immigrant integration center, PODER facilitates successful societal and workforce integration and there’s no more vital skill than the ability to communicate effectively in English,” Daniel Loftus, President and CEO of PODER Learning Center, said. “Learning a language virtually, due to the pandemic, has its challenges.  By investing in our recruitment and training of volunteers to support our professional instructors, this grant will ensure every PODER student receives all the additional one-one-one English tutoring support they need to be successful.”

To volunteer as a tutor at one of these programs, contact the Illinois Adult Learning Hotline at 800-321-9511.