KANKAKEE— State Senator Patrick Joyce announced that seven school districts across the South Cook County area will receive over $2 million in additional funding to help address the financial challenges of recent years.

“Evidence-based funding helps create a fair distribution of resources among different schools and districts throughout the state,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “By using this formula, we can ensure our educators and administrators have access to the tools to promote positive learning experiences for our students.”.”

The funding comes from the 2017 Illinois Senate Democrat-backed evidence-based funding formula — an overhaul of the way the state funds K-12 education. The law made school funding more equitable by calculating the needs of individual school districts and basing its state revenue on those needs. The formula takes into account a district’s total enrollment, poverty rate and number of special education or English language learners, among other factors.

KANKAKEE — State Senator Patrick Joyce recently joined the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to announce the reopening of the popular Chippewa campground, located in Kankakee River State Park.

“I have always been an advocate for outdoor recreation and activities, so it is amazing to finally see this campsite open back up,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “We are thrilled to welcome people back to Chippewa. After being closed for some time, we can now ensure a safe and enjoyable space where families and campers can go to spend time outdoors.”

The Chippewa campground closed at the end of the fall 2015 camping season after a pump broke in the 1,700-foot well that serves the campground. The well provides water for drinking, bathing, cleaning and more. The project included construction of a new facility to treat water on site and other improvements. Work was delayed during the two-year state budget impasse.

The campground is located on Illinois 102, about two miles west of the Kankakee River State Park main office. It has 98 total campsites, which are available by reservation only. Reservations can be made at ExploreMoreIL.com.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Patrick Joyce highlighted a $263.5 million investment in state funding to support 12 projects that are delivering major improvements to Kankakee’s transportation infrastructure.

“It is great to see much needed projects being close to finished in Kankakee and surrounding areas,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “In the coming years, we will continue to see more improvements to the area through the Rebuild Illinois program, which shows our commitment to investing in infrastructure and residents in the state.”

These major projects cover all modes of transportation: roads, bridges, transit, waterways, freight and passenger rail, aviation, and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Patrick Joyce helped champion a new law that will combat food deserts across the state.

“The number of food deserts has increasingly gotten worse over the last few years,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “There is no reason why rural and urban residents should not have easy access to affordable foods.”

Under the new law, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will be required to provide grants and other forms of financial assistance to grocery stores located in or to be located in a food desert. This aims to help mitigate the issue of food deserts across the state. An area is considered a food desert when urban residents have to travel more than a half-mile and rural residents more than 10 miles to get to the nearest grocery store.

Joyce served as a chief cosponsor on the measure.

“Food deserts disproportionately affect lower income communities, causing poor nutrition and health issues,” said Joyce. “By addressing these concerns, we can help promote a healthier lifestyle and improve overall health and well-being for all residents.”

Senate Bill 850 was signed Friday and takes effect Jan. 1, 2024.