CHICAGO – State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is calling for the Chicago Police Department to apologize for the murders of Fred Hampton and Mark Clark in 1969.

“The murders of Fred Hampton and Mark Clark were violent and brutal acts by the Chicago Police Department. Though it happened more than 50 years ago, Black Americans are still waiting for justice and accountability,” Van Pelt said. “How are Black and Brown Americans ever expected to trust the police when they got away with murder, and continue to do so?”

More than $108 million allocated for COVID education funding

PLAINFIELD — State Senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) is pleased to learn more than $100 million will go toward bridging the digital divide in schools across the state and protecting the safety of both students and teachers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Every student in the state deserves a quality education and should not be hindered by access to technology,” Bertino-Tarrant said. “Technology is a critical tool in learning, and we must invest in it to give students the resources they need to succeed.”

More than $108 million in federal Governor’s Emergency Education Relief funds have been allocated to preK-12 public education and higher education institutions to meet the unique challenges of COVID-19.

A total of $10 million of the funds will support early childhood education programs, while K-12 schools will receive $50 million to close the digital divide, train educators and parents and supply social-emotional supports for students.

In total, school districts will receive $32.5 million to purchase laptops and tablets and $7.5 million to purchase WiFi hotspots and increase internet connectivity for students and their families.

Higher education institutions will receive $49 million, most of which will go directly to public universities and community colleges to help students overcome barriers created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The funds will allow students across the state to have access to essential tools they need to be successful in school,” Bertino-Tarrant, who serves as chair of the Senate’s education committee, said. “We need to support students by closing the digital literacy gap and ensuring equitable technology access for all.”

ELGIN – The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority announced new funding to provide grants for organizations providing support and relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) is encouraging organizations to submit applications.

“Communities of color have suffered the worst from the coronavirus, not just in terms of number of cases, but also when it comes to the amount of resources available to help them recover,” Castro said. “There are many great organizations out there doing amazing work, and I would encourage them to apply for an ICJIA grant so they can keep it up.”

The ICJIA grants are part of federal funding for supporting communities that have faced the hardest challenges from the coronavirus, allocated by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program. Uses for the grants include housing assistance; support services like mental health services and legal aid; rent, utilities or other expenses by local community organizations; and the distribution of food. The funds can also be used for any other need that is related to the pandemic.

“These organizations are vital to community recovery, and I’m glad there is a way for them to get some extra help if they need it,” Castro said.

Additional information and a link to the application – which is due by July 24 – can be found here.

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.

CHICAGO – As communities continue to recover from the ongoing novel coronavirus crisis, State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) is encouraging organizations specializing in relief efforts like housing assistance and mental health support to apply for a grant from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.

“In many ways, COVID-19 has hit Black and Brown communities much harder than other communities,” Peters said. “The ICJIA grants will help organizations that are providing support in these communities and make it easier for them to do the job they’ve set out to do.”

The grants were allocated by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program and will be used to support communities that have been hit the hardest by COVID-19. The funds can be used for:

• Housing assistance for those who have experienced violence or who are involved in the criminal justice system;
• Support services for members of the community, including legal services and mental and emotional health support;
• Rent, utilities and supplies for community-based organizations;
• Food distribution; and
• Any other pandemic related need as determined by the community.

“We’re in the fight together, and any organization that feels like they could use some help should apply for a grant,” Peters said.

Additional information and a link to the application can be found here. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on July 24.

DEERFIELD – After months of delays, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) is pleased to learn youth in the Department of Children and Family Service’s care will finally transition to a new Medicaid managed care program in September.

More than 16,000 foster children will transition to the new Medicaid managed care program this September, after nearly a year of delays. People who were formerly in care of the state’s foster program were transitioned to the new health care program in February, but the transition for current foster children was put on pause in an effort for them to receive a smooth transition to the robust care. 

CHAMPAIGN – The U.S. Small Business Administration resumed accepting applications to its Paycheck Protection Program last week, and State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is encouraging small business owners to contact participating lenders to apply.

“Small businesses are the foundation of our communities,” Bennett said. “Small businesses that have been hurt or impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic should take advantage as soon as possible.”

The Small Business Administration has extended the application deadline to allow more businesses to apply for a portion of $10 million in aid. Funding will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and may be used to keep people on the payroll and pay overhead expenses. The new deadline to apply for a PPP loan is Aug. 8.

Businesses that need help with the application process can contact the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County Economic Development Corporation, which assists entrepreneurs and companies by providing free and confidential business guidance, training and other resources.

More than 27,000 Illinois businesses have already taken advantage of the loans – saving an estimated 1.36 million jobs – according to the Small Business Administration.

PPP loans have an interest rate of 1% and can be fully forgiven if they are used for eligible costs, including payroll, rent, utilities or interest on mortgages. To find participating lenders, business owners and managers can visit the Small Business Administration’s website here.

CHICAGO— The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) will make $7.1 million in funding available to organizations providing support services and resources to communities hit hardest by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and State Senator Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) is encouraging interested organizations to apply immediately.

“COVID-19 has had an awful, disproportionate impact on minority communities. These communities that have been severely affected by the pandemic cannot afford to deal with an additional crisis,” Munoz said. “The funding opportunity will assist individuals and families who are in jeopardy of losing their homes, access to food or other needs due to the flexibility of the grant.”

The funding is provided through the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program and will support communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the virus. Interested organizations are required to submit an application to ICJIA by July 24. Funds can be used for:

• Transitional and/or emergency housing and rental assistance for persons involved in the criminal justice system and those who have experienced violence.
• Supportive services for community members, including overall advocacy, case management, legal services, mental and emotional support, and clinical behavioral health services for adults and children.
• Rent, utilities and COVID-related supplies for community-based agency operations.
• Efforts to distribute food to local residents.
• Other needs resulting from the pandemic, as determined by communities.

Funding priorities were determined by an ICJIA ad hoc committee of criminal justice practitioners, policymakers, and community representatives. Community-level data on positive COVID cases, unemployment, housing, and reentry will be considered in funding decisions.

Additional information on the available funds and application process is available here. Proposals are due by 11:59 pm on Friday, July 24.