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Para español haga clic aquí Dear Neighbors, As the year comes to an end and we get ready to start a new General Assembly, I wanted to share how grateful I am to represent the 85th District. My team and I are looking forward to continuing our exceptional constituent services, being out in the community, and advocating for legislation to better the 85th District in 2025. As always, please contact my office if there is anything we can help you with: info@repdagmara.org or 815-372-0085 Happy Holidays,
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NEW GRANTS ANNOUNCEDProgram Details: Provide grants for the purpose of attracting, hosting and developing new events and festivals in Illinois or enhancing existing festivals and events.
Eligible Applicants: Application Deadline: December 20, 2024 at 5:00pm Technical Assistance Webinar: November 26, 2024 at 11am Program Details: Provide grants to assist in the development or improvement of tourism attractions that increase the economic impact of tourism throughout the State Eligible Applicants: Application Deadline: December 20, 2024 at 5:00pm Technical Assistance Webinar: November 26, 2024 at 9am Description: Provide pre-development funding opportunities to eligible contractors to support the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects benefiting businesses, community organizations, and the workforce in Illinois with a specific focus on historically disadvantaged communities. The grant program is designed to help remove barriers to project, community, and business development caused by lack of capital. Eligible Applicants: Equity Eligible Contractors (EEC) that can provide an Illinois Power Agency EEC certification Illinois business or nonprofit or cooperative organization that meets the equity building criteria in paragraph (9.5) of subsection (g) of Section 8-103B of the Public Utilities Act.
Deadline: December 31, 2024 at 5:00PM
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OUT AND ABOUTIf you would like to invite me to an event, meeting, or tour of your facility, please reach out to my office at info@repdagmara.org.
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My District Director, Jasmine, attended the annual Continuum of Care meeting for Will, Grundy, and Kendall counties. They gave an update on the state of homelessness in the 3 counties and discussed future plans to combat unsheltered homelessness. |
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I was honored to join the Illinois Nurses Association General Assembly to speak to them about the importance of healthcare workers in our community. We must continue to protect our frontline workers and advocate for good working conditions and pay. |
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Jasmine joined the K-12 Appropriations committee at a tour of the WilCo Career Center, which is a vocational school located in the 85th District! |
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I spoke at the annual Romeoville Veterans Day Ceremony and breakfast, thanking all the veterans for their brave service to our country. |
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My team had a resource table at the Will County Health Departments Women Wellness Fair. There were many organizations there offering services and resources and even raffles! |
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I was happy to attend the Angelic Kindness Gala to support all the incredible work Angelic Kindness does throughout the 85th District and beyond! |
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Briana attended the Warehouse Workers for Justice Open House for their new office in Joliet! WWJ provides exceptional services for our community, and it’s great to see them expand. |
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UPCOMING EVENTS & RESOURCES
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The Illinois General Assembly has passed several pieces of legislation to help critical human service fields get student loan assistance. The School & Municipal Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program: Assists school and municipal social workers with a one-time, $6,500 payment towards their student loans. Full info HERE and on ISAC’s website. The Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program: Offers workers a renewable payment of $4,000 to $40,000 if they work at a community mental health center, behavioral health center, substance use treatment center, or state operated psychiatric hospital licensed by DHS or HFS. Full info HERE and on ISAC’s website. The Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program: Offers between $2,000 to $15,000 of renewable payments to full-time employees at a human service organization that has or once had a contract or funding from an IL state agency during their employment. Full info HERE and on ISAC’s website.
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Illinois EPA’s next EV Rebate Program funding cycle is opening on January 21, 2025, with $14 million available for rebates for the current fiscal year, which ends on June 30, 2025. Priority in awarding applicants will be given to low-income applicants. Applications and instructions will be posted prior to the cycle opening, giving Illinois residents time to plan their EV purchases!
Learn more about the Illinois Electric Vehicle Rebate Program and join our listserv for updates: https://bit.ly/3NSRUqQ Once the funding cycle opens, a few important reminders: Applicants must apply during the rebate cycle window and within 90 days of vehicle purchase. We would encourage interested constituents to apply as early as possible during the rebate cycle window. This is a first come, first serve program, and we anticipate funding will run out quickly. Applicants should do a thorough review of their application before submitting – if any application components are missing, in the time it takes for IEPA to review, reach out to the constituent, and have a new application submitted, funding could already be gone.
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Save Money and Energy at Home! ComEd, Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas have partnered to help single family homeowners and renters save money and energy through the Home Energy Savings offering, while also promoting sustainability. This program offers free home assessments, free and discounted energy-saving products, tips and resources tailored to your individual needs. The Home Energy Savings program offers: FREE virtual, in-person, or self-assessments to identify energy-saving opportunities. Ready-to-use products like LEDs, showerheads, faucet aerators and pipe insulation. Products such as smart thermostats, and advanced power-strips are free to income eligible customers. Free deeper home improvements like attic and wall insulation, and even equipment upgrades (e.g. A/C, boiler, furnace, hot water heater) for income qualifying customers. Free improvements to increase air quality and home comfort. Customized educational resources and referrals for further support
Get started with your free energy assessment here or by calling 855-660-9378. Renew Your Medicaid!Got Medicaid? Get ready to renew! Manage your case at abe.illinois.gov. Illinois is checking to see if you are still eligible for Medicaid. Here's what you need to do now: Click Manage My Case at abe.illinois.gov to: Watch your mail and complete your renewal right away. If you are no longer eligible for Medicaid, connect to coverage at work or through the official Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace for Illinois, GetCoveredIllinois.gov.
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211 Help LineI encourage people to take advantage of the 211 line and website. 211 is powered by real people — trained specialists who work to identify and address the root causes of a client’s problem. That means from the first hello, someone in crisis is reaching a real person who can provide a connection to help. Get help with food, clothing, shelter, housing, rent/utility assistance, counseling, substance abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, transportation, support groups, senior services, aging parents, child care, employment, legal assistance, and health care.Text 898211 for help. Food PantriesLIHEAPLIHEAP helps eligible households with low income pay for home energy services. This includes assistance with heating gas, propane and electricity. More information on services available in your region can be found by visiting your Local Administering Agency (referred to as a local agency) page. Deadline: The LIHEAP application period is October 2, 2023 to August 15, 2024, or until funding is exhausted. Last day to apply online with the Request for Services form is July 5, 2024. After this date you can still apply through your local administering agency through August 15, 2024, or until funding is exhausted. Go to Find my Local Agency to locate your LIHEAP Local Administering Agency. Court Based Rental Assistance ProgramCBRAP provides funding to Illinois tenants and Housing Providers who have pending cases in eviction court. Applicants may qualify for up to $15,000 in rental assistance for past due rent and 2 months of future rent payments. To see if you are eligible and apply, click here. SmartBuy Program is Back! SmartBuy is helping eligible home buyers pay off up to $40,000 in student loans plus $5,000 in assistance towards down payment and closing costs while buying a home! To learn more about this program, click here.
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