$2.88 Million in Back 2 Business Grants Awarded in 24th Senate District
I am thrilled to announce that several restaurants and hotels in the 24th Senate District recently received Back 2 Business Grants through the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO). A total of $665,000 was distributed to restaurants and an additional $2,216,687 was distributed to hotels/motels in the 24th District in DuPage and Suburban Cook Counties.
Click here to view a list of restaurants and hotels/motels in the 24th District that received funds.
A total of $50 million was available for restaurants and $75 million for hotels/motels statewide. Eligible restaurants received grants of between $5,000 and $50,000, and eligible hotels/motels received grants of up to $1,500 per room.
Senator Lewis to Host Prescription Drug Drop-Off Event on October 28
Thank you to everyone who attended one or more of my September community outreach events. With the assistance of my fabulous events staff, I hosted senior fairs in Roselle and Wheaton, an Unclaimed Property Event at the Carol Stream Library (we returned over $18,000 to people at this event!), and special district office hours on a Saturday.
Looking ahead to October, on Saturday, October 28, I will be hosting a Prescription Drug Drop-Off Event from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM in Roselle at the Police Department, located at 103 S. Prospect Street in Roselle. During this four-hour event, people are welcome to drive through and drop off unused or expired human or pet medications that will be safely destroyed by the Roselle Police Department. We probably all have items in our medicine cabinets that should be thrown away, so let’s all do our part to keep these items out of the water supply and out of the hands of potential abusers.
New events are added to my events calendar regularly, so visit SenatorLewis.com often to find more information.
It’s Fall Festival Time in the 24th District!
Several communities in the 24th District are hosting Fall Festivals and other events that celebrate the change of the seasons. Here is a rundown of family-friendly events that are coming up in the various municipalities that comprise the 24th District:
- Fall Fest (Lombard)
October 7 | 11:30 am – 2:30 pm - Downtown Wheaton Chili Cook-Off
October 7 | 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm - Founders Day Festival (Roselle)
October 7 | 2:00 pm – 7:00 pm - Danada Fall Festival (Wheaton)
October 7 and 8 | 11:00 am – 5:00 pm - Glass Pumpkin Patch (Morton Arboretum, Lisle)
October 11-15 | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm - Cantigny Fall Festival (Wheaton)
October 13 | 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm
October 14 -15 | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm - Sonny Acres Farm (West Chicago)
September 16 – October 29 - Fall Fest (Warrenville)
October 27 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Illinois Homeowner Grant Program Set to Expire
Illinois homeowners impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic seeking financial mortgage assistance have until October 31 to apply for a grant through the Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF). ILHAF is a federally funded program dedicated to assisting homeowners at risk of default, foreclosure, or displacement because of financial hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
ILHAF was initially launched in April 2022 and has provided more than $246 million to help nearly 14,000 homeowners avoid foreclosure while regaining their financial stability. ILHAF supports qualified homeowners with grants of up to $60,000 for past-due mortgage payments, property taxes, property insurance, and homeowner and/or condo association fees. The average grant is $17,988 per household.
Applications must be submitted before 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 31 to be reviewed for eligibility. A submitted application does not guarantee approval.
To qualify for a grant, Illinois homeowners must meet the following criteria:
- Have a household income less than 150% of the Area Median Income.
- Own and occupy their property as their primary residence.
- Are past due on their mortgage, property tax payments, or homeowner association dues.
- Have experienced a financial hardship directly related to COVID-19 that began, continued, or worsened after Jan. 21, 2020.
Eligible Illinois homeowners can apply online at https://www.illinoishousinghelp.org/.
Senator Lewis: Out and About in the Community
September was another busy month of visiting with constituents and community leaders, and hosting events for the people of the 24th District. In the photo collage above (L-R) I am shown speaking to the Legislative Education Network of DuPage (LEND) at a legislative breakfast, talking with seniors at one of my September senior fairs, discussing state legislative issues with a large group of residents at Corpus Christi in Carol Stream, and visiting with police officers at Bloomingdale’s Septemberfest.
Nominate Outstanding School Personnel
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) wants to know more about outstanding educators, administrators, or school professionals. ISBE will be accepting applications until October 15 for the 2024 Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Awards.
Awards are presented in seven categories: classroom teachers, early career educators (teachers 1-4 years), school administrators, student support personnel, educational service personnel, community volunteers, and teams.
Dial 988 offers help for individuals in crisis
September 10-16 was National Suicide Prevention Week, and individuals in crisis can now call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at any time to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
As of July 16, 2022, all calls and text messages to “988” route to a 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline call center, which provides free and confidential support for people in distress 24 hours per day and seven days per week. You can learn more about the 988 hotline here.
National Suicide Prevention Week is an annual campaign to inform and engage health professionals and the public about suicide prevention and warning signs of suicide.
Application Period for Energy Bill Assistance Now Open
Low-income Illinois families can now begin applying to receive financial assistance for natural gas, propane, and electricity bills through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
The application period begins this week under a tiered system, allowing priority groups the first chance to receive available funds. Priority groups that can now begin filing for assistance include seniors (age 60 and older), disabled persons, and families with children under the age of 6 years old.
Then, on November 1, 2023, households that are disconnected from their utilities/energy vendors, have a disconnection notice, or have less than 25% in their propane tank can start applying for LIHEAP assistance. All other income eligible households can start applying on December 1, 2023.
The amount of support families can receive varies based on the needs of the applicants, but last year over 311,000 households received an average of over $1,000.
The eligible income thresholds can be found on the Help Illinois Families website. Families can also call the hotline at 1-833-711-0374 if they think they might be eligible for the program.
Small Equipment Grants Open for Local Fire Departments
The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal announced the application period for the Small Equipment Grant Program is now open to eligible fire departments, fire protection districts, township fire departments, and not-for-profit ambulance services.
In an effort to address the financial hardships many fire departments face, the Small Equipment Grant Program provides grants of up to $26,000 for the purchase of small firefighting and ambulance equipment. Under the program, $4 million is available and qualified departments must apply by December 15, 2023.
Click here to learn more about the program and how to apply.
New DCFS Audit Shows Alarming Problems Still Persist
A new report by the Auditor General shows problems within the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) still persist despite several calls from lawmakers to overhaul and reform the broken agency.
The audit, released on September 26th, revealed that the department repeatedly failed to immediately report evidence of abuse and/or accusations of abuse to state’s attorneys and other officials. The audit also specifically called out “misstatements” that it said were “both material and pervasive.”
Despite numerous promises from the Governor to improve the situation at DCFS, the most recent findings show an increase in the number of areas where the agency was found to be noncompliant to a total of 33, with 23 findings repeated from previous audits.
On top of numerous scathing audits and reports on DCFS, the agency and its director have also been found in contempt of court multiple times for failing to properly place children.
The continued issues with DCFS are infuriating, as the agency is tasked with protecting the most vulnerable children and families in Illinois. In response to the audit, I renew my call for the Governor to take significant steps to overhaul the agency before any further tragedies strike.
Congressional Committee Holds Hearing on Chicago Crime
Members of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee met in Chicago last week to discuss rising crime in the Windy City.
The committee, hosted by the Fraternal Order of Police, brought congressional members in to hear testimony from crime victims and retired officers including, retired Chicago Police Officer Carlos Yanez Jr., retired Chicago Police Department Lt. John Garrido, and Gianno Caldwell, whose brother was murdered last year.
Members of the committee heard their testimony and asked questions relating to policies and statistics involving crime, as well as the potential negative impact of the SAFE-T Act on police departments.
Committee Chairman Jim Jordan says the forum was the second stop in a series called “Violent Crime in Major Urban Areas.” During the hearing, he noted that Chicago has led the nation in the number of homicide cases for the past 11 years.
Applications for Illinois’ Electric Vehicle Rebate Program Open Soon
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will soon start incentivizing the purchase of electric vehicles with cash.
Starting November 1st, state residents can earn up to a $4,000 rebate for the purchase of an all-electric vehicle or a $1,500 rebate for the purchase of an all-electric motorcycle.
Applicants must apply for the rebate within 90-days of a vehicle’s purchase. The next application period will run from November 1, 2023 to January 31, 2024, or until funding runs out.
For a list of eligibility requirements for the rebate, click here. The application and instructions will also be included on the website starting October 18, 2023.