CHICAGO - Four transit providers in Morton Grove, Chicago and Skokie were awarded more than $450,000 to expand access to transportation services, thanks to efforts from State Senator Ram Villivalam.

“Investing in transportation services not only benefits our communities, but provides opportunities for residents,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “We are continuing to make progress in our transportation efforts to ensure seniors and individuals with disabilities have access to safe and reliable transportation.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) released the following statement after the governor outlined his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2025:

“It is great to see that Governor’s Pritzker’s proposed budget closes corporate loopholes to continue our commitment to funding K-12 public education, supporting our seniors, safety for all of us, and prioritizing economic development in Illinois. It is imperative that we continue investing into our communities – from our youth to our seniors.

“Everyone deserves the right to a high-quality education, regardless of ZIP code. Being a father to two children, I understand the importance of always investing in our young people. The investments we make in our children will pay off dividends for years to come.

“By increasing funding for home-delivered meal programs and the Community Care Program, we can provide our seniors with the opportunity to live their lives with the dignity and respect that they deserve.

“We need to continue our commitment to attract the best and brightest entrepreneurs to make Illinois their home. The proposed funding toward grants, resources and apprenticeship programs is going to help grow our economy and create new good-paying jobs for Illinoisans.

“This is an encouraging first step in the budget process. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues to pass a budget that prioritizes the needs of our community and state.”

Originally published in WAND on Feb. 16, 2024.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois nonprofit organizations could soon be eligible for state grant funding to build or renovate early childhood properties. A proposal in Springfield could expand the child care construction grants for non-public schools.

The Early Childhood Construction Grant Program was created in 2009 to provide state funding to help public schools and nonprofits give better learning environments for young kids.

Illinois awarded $45 million to community programs and public schools in 2011. Then, lawmakers earmarked $100 million for the program through the historic 2019 Rebuild Illinois capital spending plan.

SPRINGFIELD – To provide additional access to Illinois' Early Childhood Construction Grant program, State Senator Ram Villivalam passed legislation out of the Senate Education Committee that would make community-based not-for-profits eligible for $40 million in grant funds.

“Early childhood organizations provide necessary assistance to families across Illinois who are struggling to access child care resources,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “With this legislation, we are able to provide opportunities for nonprofit organizations in our community to be eligible for grants that would significantly assist them with providing better learning environments for our youth.”

This new legislation, Senate Bill 2675, would remove a provision specifying that grants made in fiscal year 2024 could be awarded only to public school districts.

"On behalf of the 37 programs that make up JUF’s Early Childhood Collaborative, including the Bernard Horwich JCC, we know that access to infrastructure dollars is critical to building care environments that are accessible, safe, and promote healthy development,” said Amy Zimmerman, Assistant Vice President, State Government Affairs, Jewish United Fund.