State Senator Rachel Ventura announced the opening of applications for the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program, which will provide equitable career opportunities to vulnerable communities and increase representation of underrepresented groups in the construction trades.
economic opportunity
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Gov. JB Pritzker announces the $1.2 billion plan to overhaul Interstate 80 in 2019, surrounded by local state officials
State officials visited Will County on Monday to recommit to a six-year plan aimed at a complete overhaul of the Interstate 80 corridor. Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation joined by local officials introduced the six-year plan to rebuild Interstate 80 in Will County. Made possible by the Governor’s, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program, the $1.2 billion project will replace more than 50-year-old infrastructure on a condensed timeframe and create thousands of construction and permanent jobs while positioning the region for long-term economic opportunity. “We were excited to see Governor Pritzker, Lt. Governor Stratton, and IDOT Secretary Osman visit Will County to emphasize the critical need for completion of the I-80 project. Getting to the finish line on a project of this scale requires consistent leadership from state and local officials, and we are fortunate to have that support,” said Doug Pryor, vice president of economic development for the Will County Center for Economic Development.
Posted in#NNPA BlackPress, Business, Commentary, Community, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Economy, National, News, NNPA, NNPA Newswire, Op-Ed, Politics
OP-ED: Don’t Raise Taxes on the Investments Black-Owned Businesses Depend On
NNPA NEWSWIRE — 58% of Black-owned businesses reported being financially distressed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From February to April 2020, Black business ownership dropped by a crushing 41%. And although the total U.S. unemployment rate fell to 5.4 in July of this year, it remained a staggering 8.2 percent for Black workers. Which begs the question of why then are politicians even considering instituting economic policies that would harm Black-owned businesses, as opposed to helping them?
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Pritzker announces $327 million in Household Assistance Available for low-income families in Illinois
Governor JB Pritzker today joined the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and community partners to announce $327 million in Help Illinois Families assistance now available through the Low-Income Household Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Community Services Block Grant Program (CSBG). The program offers expanded services to support Illinois’ most vulnerable residents with rent, utilities, food and other household expenses regardless of immigration status.
