EAST ST. LOUIS – To expand digital access in the Metro East, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) is urging local organizations to apply for the second round of state broadband grant funding.

“People rely on the internet. As the pandemic forced many people to work from home and participate in school remotely, access to the internet became a necessity,” Belt said. “I want to spread the word that applications are open for organizations to apply for broadband funding as we work to eliminate the digital divide.”

The Office of Broadband Regional Engagement for Adoption + Digital Equity (READY) program is designed to increase access, adoption and use of high-speed internet access through the lens of digital equity and inclusion. To further these efforts across all ten economic development regions of the state, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Broadband is launching the next READY notice of funding opportunity, with another $250,000 available for grants.

The Broadband READY program is part of a comprehensive Digital Equity Package to boost broadband capacity while addressing existing broadband equity gaps. The READY program and other investments to enhance community planning and equitable implementation will complement the Connect Illinois program, a $400 million plan to deliver universal access to high-speed internet statewide.

Funding can be used to expand immediate broadband connectivity, conduct outreach and engagement to identify current digital inequities and establish next steps forward. Its aim is to create a digital inclusion ecosystem through regional collaboration among institutions of higher education, planning councils, community and economic development organizations, schools, libraries, health care and local leaders and other related stakeholders.

“In today’s world, the internet is our gateway to everything,” Belt said. “Bridging the gap to ensure people have reliable internet is essential.”

The application deadline for the second round of READY grants is Oct. 4, 2021. Visit the Illinois Office of Broadband website for information on eligibility criteria or application assistance.

Illinois revisits cannabis laws to provide more licenses to minority applicants

SPRINGFIELD - Illiinois has created new marijuana dispensary licenses for social equity applicants because of a new law sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) that was signed last week.

“The signing of House Bill 1443 moves us closer to making the promise of equity in cannabis a reality in a state where the entire existing industry is White. I was proud to partner with State Representative LaShawn Ford in passing HB1443 which is the result of dozens of meetings with stakeholders and applicants who demanded that their voices be heard,” Lightford said. “This industry has the potential to change lives but only if we keep the principles of equity at the center of every decision we make. The signing of this legislation brings us one step closer to making these promises a reality.”

Read more.

Series of new Peters laws focus on safety, justice for communities

CHICAGO – During a ceremony at a Northwestern University campus in Chicago, four public safety and criminal justice reform measures sponsored by State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) were signed by Gov. JB Pritzker and became law.

The ceremony was a culmination of several years of hard work from Peters and advocates to reimagine what safety and justice look like in Illinois.

Senate Bill 2122 makes statements provided by a minor inadmissible in court if they were made after a law enforcement official intentionally lied during the interrogation. Deception is defined as “knowingly providing false information about evidence or leniency.”

Read more.

Ellman encourages everyone to get outside during Park and Recreation Month

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) is bringing attention to the many benefits of public parks and other natural spaces in celebration of National Park and Recreation Month.

“Parks and other public spaces in our community give everyone a place to gather and enjoy being outdoors,” Ellman said. “After the difficulties of the pandemic, this Park and Recreation Month is a wonderful opportunity to get outside and enjoy nature.”

According to the National Recreation and Park Association, parks play an important role in maintaining quality of life in a community. Parks provide gathering places for members of a community to interact with each other, host public events and offer recreational programs.

Read more.

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NAPERVILLE – State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) is bringing attention to the many benefits of public parks and other natural spaces in celebration of National Park and Recreation Month.

“Parks and other public spaces in our community give everyone a place to gather and enjoy being outdoors,” Ellman said. “After the difficulties of the pandemic, this Park and Recreation Month is a wonderful opportunity to get outside and enjoy nature.”

According to the National Recreation and Park Association, parks play an important role in maintaining quality of life in a community. Parks provide gathering places for members of a community to interact with each other, host public events and offer recreational programs.

Additionally, parks provide a public place where people can go to keep healthy and fit. A Penn State University study showed that the length of visits to parks has a connection with reductions in stress, lowered blood pressure, and perceived physical health.

Parks also provide an economic benefit to their communities. A review by Texas A&M University found that parks and open space raise nearby property values and increase revenue from tourism. Trees and other growth are also estimated to save cities money in environmental impacts and the effects of storms.

“Parks are a wonderful part of our communities,” Ellman said. “I hope that local residents will take this opportunity to appreciate the parks, trails and other outdoor spaces in our area.”

Learn more about local parks and public events by visiting the park district websites for Naperville, Warrenville, Wheaton, Winfield and Lisle.

SCHAUMBURG – State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin) was honored to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the 90 North District development project in Schaumburg. The project includes $40 million in funding for community improvements this fiscal year.

“From job creation to beautification, I am excited to see all the improvements this new development will bring to the community,” Castro said.  “I commend the Village of Schaumburg and Village President Tom Dailly in their hard work throughout this difficult year in securing the grants and funding to make this project happen.”

CHICAGO – State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin) commends Gov. JB Pritzker for signing a measure to overhaul the adult-use cannabis dispensary lottery and increase diversity in the industry.

“This is a major step forward in making sure Illinois remains a leader in dismantling inequities in the cannabis industry,” said Castro, who has been a longtime advocate for legalizing cannabis in the state and who co-sponsored the new law. “Ensuring opportunities for people who have been disproportionately impacted by unjust cannabis laws was a top priority, and these additional lotteries will help set things right.”

The three lotteries will allow the state to distribute 185 dispensary licenses with a focus on social equity applicants. Applicants who previously applied for licenses will not need to submit a new application or pay a new application fee and will be automatically entered into the new lotteries.

Lotteries for all cannabis-related licenses will be a completely blind process managed by the Illinois State Lottery. All draws will be automated via a computer program and the Lottery will run multiple quality assurance checks before delivering the final results of each lottery to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

“Black and Brown communities have faced the unfair repercussions of the war on drugs for too long,” Castro said. “We need to place business owners from these communities at the forefront of this booming industry.”      

The measure, House Bill 1443, became effective immediately.

SPRINGFIELD – Community college boards of trustees and local housing authorities will now have authority to develop affordable housing for community college students, under a new law sponsored by State Senator Doris Turner (D—Springfield).

“This is about bettering the college experience for every student in this state,” said Turner. “Research shows that students who live on campus have higher GPAs. When students live on campus they are more plugged-in to the campus community and have more opportunities to join clubs, attend events and meet new people.”

CHICAGO – Legislation supported by State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) that addresses licensing issues in the state’s adult-use cannabis industry was signed into law on Thursday.

“I’m proud of the work the Black and Latino Caucuses did to ensure social equity within the cannabis industry through the changes in House Bill 1443,” Villanueva said. “I hope this move brings the needed diversity to the industry so that we can begin to correct the decades of harm done to our communities through the war on drugs.”

House Bill 1443 addresses complications with the launch of the Illinois Adult-Use Cannabis Social Equity Program, which failed to award the intended amount of social equity applicants with licenses. Due to delays brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and a faulty scoring system, only 52 of 75 licenses were issued. None of these licenses were awarded to majority Black, Latino or women-owned businesses.

The law creates a new lottery to issue five outstanding medical cannabis dispensary licenses, and two additional lotteries of 55 recreational dispensary licenses each. It also fixes various technical issues with packaging, employment and medical patient access.

Public Act 102-98 is effective immediately.

PEORIA – State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) announced an expanded state program will help connect Peoria-area small businesses to financial assistance to help them recover from COVID-19.

“Our community is built on small businesses,” Koehler said. “They were hit hardest by the pandemic, and we need to make sure that they have the resources they need to recover and move forward.”

The community navigator outreach program, which helps connect small businesses to economic recovery grant programs, is expanding to include an additional 13 support organizations across the state, which were selected through a competitive process.

Navigator organizations will perform extensive outreach to small and hard-to-reach businesses to ensure that they are aware of the relief available to them, and will provide one-on-one assistance on relief grant applications.

“I would like to thank the Economic Development Council for the Peoria Area and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation for stepping up and being a resource to small businesses in the Peoria area,” Koehler said. “I want to see as many local entrepreneurs as possible get back on their feet.”

Small businesses can visit the DCEO website or call (800) 252-2923 to learn more about recovery programs available to them.