DECATUR â Decatur Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe confirmed Tuesday that she plans to seek appointment to the Illinois Senate seat recently vacated by Andy Manar.
Manar announced his resignation earlier this year, effective Jan. 17, to take a position in Gov. J.B. Pritzkerâs administration, leaving the seat â which includes much of Decatur â open. Whoever receives the appointment will serve out the final two years of Manar s term.Â
Moore Wolfe, the cityâs mayor since 2015, said âthis was not something that was on my radar,â but that she made the decision to throw her hat in the ring after encouragement from several people.
SPRINGFIELD The grant program for small-business owners in Illinois who suffered losses during the pandemic has run out of money.
Illinois’ Business Interruption Grant program was the largest state program of its kind, but only about 20%, or 8,974 applicants, received a grant.
Just over $9 million in those funds came to the Peoria area. There were 243 grants provided to businesses in the Tri-County Area almost $6.2 million split between 161 Peoria County businesses; just over $2.7 million shared among 74 Tazewell County businesses; and $130,000 divided between eight Woodford County businesses over two rounds of grants.
The Illinois General Assembly created the program using federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, money. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity helped administer the program, and awarded more than $275 million since the first round of grants were issued in August.
Fri, 01/15/2021 - 5:39pm admin
Illinois officials on Friday, Jan. 8, announced more than $275 million in nearly 9,000 emergency assistance grants have been made to small businesses in over 600 cities and towns statewide through the Business Interruption Grants, BIG, program.
The funding was announced by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, DCEO, and Gov. JB Pritzker.
Small businesses in Union County are among those receiving emergency assistance grant funds.
Those receiving grants in Union County included Sinisi’s on Main in Anna, the Shawnee Hills Arts Council in Anna, The Kitchen on Lafayette in Anna, Abbey Ridge LLC (Downtown Abbey) in Cobden, Lincoln Heritage Winery (which is located between Anna and Cobden) and Feather Vines LLC (Feather Hills Vineyard & Winery) in Makanda/Union County.
Capitol News Illinois
Newly-elected House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, passes a seated Rep. Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, as he returns to his seat on the floor of the Bank of Springfield Center on Wednesday, Jan. 13, after being nominated to replace Madigan as speaker.
Credit Jerry Nowicki of Capitol News Illinois
Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch made history Wednesday, Jan. 13, by becoming the first Black person elected speaker of the Illinois House, succeeding Rep. Michael Madigan, who leaves the job after serving for 36 of the past 38 years.
The House came into session Wednesday afternoon to begin the 102nd General Assembly just moments after it adjourned a rare lame duck session that ended the 101st biennial session.
January 15, 2021
IVCC – Studstill Media Photo
OGLESBY – Illinois Valley Community College will join a four-college consortium vying for a $7.5 million Central Illinois Manufacturing Academy. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may choose the consortium’s grant application for the academy, which would be in East Peoria, with satellite campuses at Lincoln Land Community College, Spoon River College, and IVCC. The academy would significantly enhance IVCC’s ability to meet advanced manufacturing workforce needs, President Jerry Corcoran told the board Thursday. If selected, IVCC would receive $100,000 to upgrade its manufacturing facilities.
IVCC would also have to commit to paying $40,000 per year over three years for operational expenses such as the employment of a full-time manager and lab assistant at the academy.