SPRINGFIELD – The City of Kankakee will now be the latest community to be a part of the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Program, thanks to State Senator Patrick Joyce’s leadership to get Senate Bill 1963 over the finish line.

“When I was growing up, downtown Kankakee was a vibrant area full of small businesses and things to do,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “By adding Kankakee to the list of towns eligible to be in the River Edge Redevelopment Zone, investors and small business owners alike will have tax incentives to invest in the downtown area. This action aims to bring back businesses and give old river communities another chance for development.”  

The River Edge Redevelopment Zone Program helps revive and redevelop environmentally challenged properties adjacent to rivers in Illinois. Currently, the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act authorizes the Illinois Department of Commerce to designate zones in five cities: Aurora, East St. Louis, Elgin, Peoria and Rockford. This new legislation will add Kankakee and Joliet to the list of authorized municipalities in the zones.

Cities in the River Edge Redevelopment Zone are eligible for the Illinois Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program, which provides a state income-tax credit equal to 25% of a project’s qualified expenditures to owners of certified historic structures.

“We all want the same thing for downtown Kankakee: a thriving downtown with vision for the future,” said Joyce. “This action will help the city with its short- and long-term development goals.”

To learn more about the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Program, click here.

SPRRINGFIELD – The South Suburban Airport may soon be reality, thanks to the Senate members of the South Suburbs.

“This is a touchdown for communities across the South Suburbs,” said State Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey). “This airport will serve as an economic engine for our communities and provide local businesses with access to global markets for generations to come.”

For the last 40 years, lawmakers have attempted to secure a south suburban airport in the Monee community. The measure – spearheaded by Harris – passed on Wednesday, would require the state to establish the process to find partners in the construction of a new south suburban airport.

"We support this project to help create many exciting new opportunities for working families in the South Suburbs for generations to come," said Illinois AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Pat Devaney. "It will jump-start the process leading to the thousands of good-paying union construction jobs to build the airport, and create many long-term career opportunities in the direct airport operations and all of the businesses that will develop around it."

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Patrick Joyce championed a measure that passed the Senate Thursday that will allow an easier way to obtain a hunting, fishing, trapping and sportsmen license.

“This is a commonsense measure that will save people time,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “People will have more time to engage in outdoor activities without having to worry about if their license is expired.”

House Bill 3677 will allow Illinois residents to obtain a three-year fishing, hunting, sportsmen’s combination or trapping license at three times the cost of an annual one.

Under current law, people have to renew their license for these activities every year. This legislation will make the process easier for individuals by allowing them to renew the licenses after three years rather than one.

“This is a big convenience factor for people who hunt, fish and trap, but it also helps out our state’s conservation,” said Joyce. “By switching to three-year license options, we will save people the hassle of renewing their license every year while also helping generate more revenue at a time for the state’s conservation efforts.”

House Bill 3677 passed the Senate.

KANKAKEE – May 7-13 is Arson Awareness Week with this year’s theme focusing on understanding and mitigating youth firesetting issues. Specifically this week, State Senator Patrick Joyce is emphasizing the importance of fire education for children.

“Fire education can save lives and prevent accidental fires from occurring,” said Joyce (D- Essex). “Our youth need to be aware of what to do in emergency situations like this, and House Bill 2372 would provide a valuable opportunity to guide and support children towards making responsible and life-saving decisions.”

Joyce sponsored House Bill 2372 this year, which would create positions of certified youth firesetter interventionists in the Division of Arson Investigation within the Office of the State Fire Marshal. House Bill 2372 passed the Senate last week and is now awaiting concurrence in the House.