Ellman: $100,000 in maintenance funds coming to local schools

NAPERVILLE – State Senator Laura Ellman announced $100,000 in grants for two local school districts, thanks to funds distributed by the Illinois State Board of Education.

“Time and time again, we see that students thrive when classrooms are kept up-to-date and well-maintained,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “This investment in our students is an investment in the future of our community, and I’m eager to see these projects begin.”

A total of $30 million in 2022 School Maintenance Grants was distributed to 600 applicants across the state. To be eligible for the grants, applicants were required to match the state funds and commit to completing proposed projects within two years.

Winfield School District 34 and Community Unit School District 200 in Wheaton will both receive $50,000 grants through the program. Projects made possible thanks to these grants include updates to heating and cooling, improvements to ventilation, increased accessibility throughout buildings and more.

A full list of grantees and awards can be viewed on the ISBE website.

Ellman celebrates Parks and Recreation Month, announces more than $700,000 in funds for park projects

NAPERVILLE – State Senator Laura Ellman kicked off Parks and Recreation Month by announcing more than $700,000 in funding for local parks in DuPage County.

“Spending time outside is great for not only our physical health, but for our mental health as well,” said Ellman. “We have so many fantastic outdoor spaces here in our community, I’m so glad to see them get the investment they deserve.”

Open Space Land Acquisition and Development program grants are administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and support local park projects. When combined with local matching funds, the latest OSLAD grants provide more than $56 million in local park development projects and land acquisitions statewide.

Local projects receiving funds include:

• DuPage County Forest Preserve District, Willowbrook Forest Preserve – $400,000
• Wheaton Park District, Briar Patch Park improvements – $317,500

In celebration of Parks and Recreation Month, Ellman is also holding a “Tennis Shoe Town Hall,” and invites community members to join her at the Herrick Lake Forest Preserve to walk the trails and discuss issues that matter to them. The town hall will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 23, and community members are asked to meet at the Herrick Lake West Shelter to begin the walk.

“Parks and Recreation Month is a great time to get outside and really appreciate everything nature has to offer right here in our backyards,” Ellman said. “I’m excited for the opportunity to enjoy our local parks and preserves with members of our community.”

Learn more about OSLAD grants and see a full list of projects on the Illinois DNR website.

Ellman, Yang Rohr to host mobile Driver Services event

NAPERVILLE – State Senator Laura Ellman and State Representative Janet Yang Rohr are partnering with the Secretary of State’s office to host a free mobile unit event for motorists who have been unable to visit a driver services facility.

“The goal of the mobile unit is to make these services more accessible to members of our community who may have a hard time getting to the DMV,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “An expired license or out-of-date plates can cause a lot of unnecessary hassle if they go unaddressed—people can avoid the trouble by taking advantage of this great one-stop shop opportunity.”

The event will be held Friday, July 8 at Nichols Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville. Motorists are welcome to stop by between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to take advantage of the wide array of services the mobile unit offers.

Through the mobile unit, community members will have the opportunity to renew or correct licenses and state IDs, update license plate stickers, and register to vote or to be an organ donor. Real IDs will not be processed at this event, and those age 75 and up need to visit the DMV to renew a license.

Questions or concerns can be directed to Ellman’s office at 630-601-9961 or Yang Rohr’s office at 630-296-4157.

New law by Ellman aims to make Illinois leader in regional Hydrogen Hub

NAPERVILLE – The Hydrogen Economy Task Force will begin work to establish Illinois as a leader in a regional hydrogen hub under a new law championed by State Senator Laura Ellman.

“Illinois has the resources necessary to become a national leader in clean energy and hydrogen generation. It’s a matter of taking advantage of the opportunity to do so,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “We are well-positioned for both generating hydrogen and using it as a fuel and chemical to benefit our agricultural, refinery and transportation industries.”

The Hydrogen Economy Task Force established under Senate Bill 3613 will be responsible for publishing a plan to make Illinois a leader in a regional hydrogen hub, identifying opportunities to integrate hydrogen into the economy, analyzing barriers for development, and recommending policies to catalyze deployment of hydrogen into the state economy. The law aims to put Illinois at the forefront of a Midwest Clean Hydrogen Hub and create good-paying jobs to the state.

"With climate change posing an urgent threat to everyone on this planet, it is crucial for us to move to a clean energy economy – and I want Illinois to lead that change. The Hydrogen Economy Task Force is an integral first step in making Illinois a Clean Hydrogen Hub,” said State Representative Terra Costa Howard (D-Glen Ellyn), House sponsor of the bill. “This legislation will benefit our economy and our planet. I’d like to thank Senator Ellman, as well as our colleagues in the House and Senate, for their support of this important initiative.”

Signed on Friday, the law is effective immediately.