Turner applauds revitalization efforts in Central Illinois

• Housing

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner announced that Decatur, Springfield and Macon County are set to receive a combined total of more than $1 million to support community revitalization efforts.

“Revitalizing abandoned homes provides homeownership opportunities, bringing more housing options to the area,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Investing in housing across Central Illinois will boost our local economies, create jobs and uplift the communities.”

The Illinois Housing Development Authority recently approved $19 million to support affordable housing and community revitalization efforts across Illinois. Awarded under the Strong Communities Program, the initiative will provide funding to 68 units of local governments and land bank authorities for the acquisition, maintenance, rehabilitation and demolition of abandoned residential properties in their communities. The program is designed to support local revitalization efforts and attract further investment in communities that may lack the resources needed to tackle vacant, abandoned and deteriorated properties.

The second round of Strong Communities Program awardees include Springfield, Decatur and Macon County, with each entity receiving $337,000.

The grants are funded by the Rebuild Illinois capital plan and will leverage IHDA’s existing funding to increase property values, create jobs, help reduce crime, generate additional tax revenue and attract further community investment in underserved communities around the state. A total of $30 million in grant funding has been awarded through two application rounds.

“The Central Illinois Land Bank Authority is thrilled that IHDA invested in our "Abandonment to Rehab" program,” said Central Illinois Land Bank Authority Executive Director Mike Davis. “Decatur has hundreds of abandoned homes and 42% of renters have high rent burden.  The City has already invested $500k and it’s fantastic the state sees the potential for scaling up this program.”

To learn more about the Stronger Communities Program, click https://www.ihda.org/my-community/revitalization-programs/">here.

Turner applauds new manufacturing facility in Decatur

• Decatur

DECATUR – State Senator Doris Turner announced a new commercial manufacturing facility coming to Decatur, bringing more jobs to Central Illinois.

“This new facility will bring good-paying jobs right to our community while boosting the local economy,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Rising Pharmaceuticals’ move to Decatur exemplifies the city’s prime location in Central Illinois and continues Illinois’ commitment to being a leader in the manufacturing industry.”

Rising Pharmaceuticals is a leading provider of generic and specialty-branded pharmaceuticals in the U.S., focusing on the development, regulatory and commercial aspects of the product life cycle.

The New Jersey-based company is expanding its manufacturing footprint with a new facility in Decatur. The 230,000 square feet facility will manufacture and package sterile products, including injectables and ophthalmic products in response to critical pharmaceutical supply shortages across the country.

Visit Rising Pharmaceuticals’ website for more information.

Turner: Energy bill assistance opens Oct. 2

• LIHEAP

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner is encouraging all eligible people to apply to this year’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to help with utility costs. Applications will be accepted starting Oct. 2 through Aug. 15, 2024.

“Energy bill assistance is vital as utility costs continue to rise,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “No one should have to decide if they can heat their homes in the winter or put food on the table.”

Energy bill assistance offered through the Help Illinois Families Program in program year 2023 will provide $237 million to eligible families to assist with natural gas, propane and electricity bills. Last year's LIHEAP funding — which was available from September 2022 through May 2023 — provided assistance to a record number of 311,214 households.

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Faraci, Turner advocate for mental health services in ag communities

• Agriculture

DECATUR – As strong advocates of Illinois’ agriculture industry, State Senators Paul Faraci and Doris Turner joined state officials and agriculture leaders at the 2023 Farm Progress Show to support increasing across to mental health services for rural farmers and agriculture communities.

“Mental health affects people from all professions — especially farmers whose job, success and livelihood relies on many things out of their control,” said Turner (D-Springfield), chair of the Illinois Senate Agriculture Committee. “Together, we can uplift the health and well-being of some of our state’s hardest working individuals.”

Initiated through the legislative leadership of Former Champaign State Senator Scott Bennett, the Farm Family Resource Initiative started as a joint pilot program of SIU School of Medicine and the Illinois Department of Agriculture in 2019. It originated as a pilot program covering six Illinois counties providing telehealth mental health access in addition to a helpline. Following its overwhelming success, the FFRI was expanded to cover all 102 counties in the state. In addition to the telehealth helpline, family members can now access six free telehealth mental health sessions.

The program will fund up to 20 grants at $1,000 each to support FFA chapters implementing local initiatives encouraging access to mental health resources. Grants will be used to increase awareness of mental health and wellness in schools and communities across Illinois. All FFA chapters in Illinois are eligible to apply for the grant. Applications will be available from the Illinois FFA Foundation in fall 2023.

Faraci pledges to continue Bennett’s advocacy of this vital program and partner with the Illinois Department of Agriculture on expanding accessibility to farmers across the state.

“The FFRI program is a proven success and has given farmers an opportunity to talk about their struggles,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “I am honored to advocate for this lifesaving program and pay tribute to the work my friend, State Senator Scott Bennett started. It is important to remember it is okay to ask for help, especially when it comes to mental health." 

The Farmer Assistance Helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-833-FARM-SOS.