NAPERVILLE – State Senator Laura Ellman announced $100 million in grants available to public school districts and non-profit operators of early childhood centers, and urges local qualifying organizations to apply.

“Kids have the best chance to succeed when they have access to quality education in their most formative years,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “By ensuring our programs and facilities receive proper investment, we help young children in our community thrive.”

The funding comes through the Capital Development Board, in consultation with the Illinois State Board of Education, and grants will be released in two rounds. The first round of $60 million will be awarded in fall of 2022 and the remaining $40 million will be awarded at a later date.

In order to be eligible to receive a grant, recipients are required to match between 3% and 10% of the funds, as determined by the ISBE Tier level for the local elementary school district. Grants may be used for projects such as adding on to existing facilities, constructing new buildings, or carrying out safety improvements or renovations in classrooms.

“I hope programs across our community take advantage of this great opportunity,” Ellman said. “This is such an important cause, and we have so many deserving organizations that would make great use of this investment.”

Applications are due by Oct. 10, 2022. Interested organizations can find more information and apply online.

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.

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.

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.