Diverse economic development endeavors across Illinois are injecting crucial revenue, revitalizing communities, and fostering increased economic activity within the state. The following offers a glimpse into a few of the ongoing projects throughout Illinois, showcasing their impact on local development. Prysmian Group Expansion The state’s REV incentive package facilitated Prysmian Group’s $64 million…

Police officers severely disabled by COVID-19 denied benefits Denial of benefits for officers disabled by COVID ‘disgusting’: Susana Mendoza A One-On-One With Comptroller Mendoza NEWSRADIO WJPF INTERVIEW WITH SUSANA MENDOZA Comptroller Susana Mendoza talks Illinois budget, pensions, and diversity Contour Airlines takes its first flight from Marion to Chicago NEWSRADIO WJPF INTERVIEW WITH SUSANA MENDOZA

Economic Development Notes — Economic development projects in communities all over Illinois are injecting needed revenue, revitalization and economic activity into the state. Below is a look at some of the projects underway in Illinois. Cahokia Heights will receive nearly $10 million in state funds to upgrade its aging sewage infrastructure. The repairs are…

Illinois’ Finances Stabilized Before the Start of FY ’22 without Federal Funds — It’s a myth that federal funds received through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) bailed Illinois out of its fiscal problems. The truth is, Illinois’ financial situation improved before ARPA dollars arrived. Throughout 2020, Illinois did receive federal funding, but those funds were designated for programs to address the COVID-19 pandemic and were not used to pay down Illinois’ outstanding bill backlog or to improve the state’s overall fiscal standing.

IOC holding steady on vendor payments, oldest GRF voucher at 10 business days to close April — At the end of the day April 30, the oldest General Revenue Fund voucher at the Illinois Office of Comptroller was 10 business days. This chart shows how this compares to the end of the calendar year and the end of the fiscal year since Fiscal Year 2018, starting with…

Supporting First Responders and Their Families; Saving for a Rainy Day — The General Assembly got off to a fast start in January as lawmakers convened to conduct final business of the 102nd General Assembly. After higher-than-expected revenues came into state coffers, the General Assembly voted to approve supplemental appropriations for the second half of Fiscal Year 2023. The additional spending package…

SAVE in Belleville Connects Those Living with Developmental Disabilities to Job Training and Life Skills — The St. Clair Associated Vocational Enterprises (SAVE) campus in Belleville, Illinois is clearly more of a community than a facility. The nonprofit’s mission is to promote “the personal and vocational development of people with developmental disabilities and increases their community inclusion” — according to its website, saveorg.org.

An interview with Jaime di Paulo of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce — Jaime di Paulo is President and CEO of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC). Based in Chicago and representing businesses across the state, it is the top Hispanic business organization of its kind in the Midwest — helping business leaders learn, advocate, develop and network. The head of IHCC…

Promoting community health, employment and education — In 1887, a group of community leaders in Denver, Colorado created an organization to coordinate health and welfare agencies. …