PARK FOREST – A dozen local libraries will receive over $250,000 in state funding to improve services and offer new products to residents, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) announced Thursday.

“For many kids, literacy starts at the library,” Joyce said. “Investing in our libraries helps kids develop a love for reading that they can carry with them for their entire lives.”

Twelve libraries in the 40th District will receive a combined $251,663.55, part of $18.1 million in grants awarded to 638 public libraries across the state. For more than 40 years, the Illinois Public Library Per Capita and Equalization Aid Grants Program has helped public libraries with a low library tax base to ensure a minimum level of funding for library services.

Libraries will use the grants from the secretary of state’s office to help fund new services and products, such as audiobooks, adult programming, dual language materials and more.

“Folks depend on their public libraries for a wide variety of services, including books and news, internet access, and education,” Joyce said. “This funding will help ensure important resources remain available to those who need them.”

PARK FOREST – Families and businesses impacted by the severe storms and flash flooding in central Illinois that occurred earlier this month could be eligible for recovery assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) announced Wednesday.

Families in the surrounding counties of Champaign, Iroquois, Ford, Livingston, McLean and Vermilion are also eligible to apply for the SBA’s low-interest, long-term loans to boost flood recovery efforts.

“Following a disaster, it’s important for the community to come together and help each other heal,” Joyce said. “Assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration can give families the boost they need to bounce back.”

The SBA Disaster Declaration makes three types of loans available to storm survivors:

• Physical Disaster Loans: Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventory, supplies, machinery and equipment. These applications must be received by the SBA no later than Oct. 22, 2021.
• Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private nonprofits meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a result of the disaster. These applications must be submitted to the SBA no later than May 23, 2022.
• Home Disaster Loans: Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate and personal property. SBA regulations limit home loans to $200,000 for the repair or replacement of real estate and $40,000 to repair or replace personal property. These loan applications are due Oct. 22, 2021.

HERSCHER – Motorists who have been unable to visit a driver services facility to renew their driver’s licenses and purchase vehicle stickers will be able to attend a free mobile unit event, sponsored by State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) in partnership with the secretary of state’s office.

The free event will be available to motorists Wednesday, Sept. 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Herscher Village Hall, located at 272 E. 2nd St. in Herscher.

“The mobile unit has been a great event for residents struggling to access a driver services facility, and it’s been my goal this summer to continue to bring these services to the community,” Joyce said. “Skip the long lines and take advantage of this convenient opportunity to access secretary of state services.”

PARK FOREST – A comprehensive proposal by State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) aimed at eliminating Illinois’ teacher shortage was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker.

“The teacher shortage in Illinois is a crisis, and this new law offers strategies to reverse the trend,” Joyce said. “As school districts return to in-person learning this fall, this new law will grant retired teachers the ability to substitute teach for more hours without impairing their retirement status.”

Currently, Illinois law allows retired teachers to substitute teach for up to 120 days or 600 hours without jeopardizing their retirement status. Because retired teachers often return to work as substitute teachers, Joyce’s initiative would create a yearly, rather than lifetime limit: Retired teachers could substitute teach for 100 days or 500 hours each school year beginning July 1, 2023.

“This new law will allow school districts to increase the pool of qualified substitute teachers while allowing former teachers to maintain their retirement status, ensuring the most qualified professionals are teaching our children,” Joyce said. 

The legislation – Senate Bill 1989 – was signed into law Friday and takes effect immediately.