CHAMPAIGN – Two local park districts will receive $747,000 combined in grants for local projects, State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) announced Tuesday.

The money comes from a grant that is part of the state’s Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) program, administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The program is providing more than $29.7 million in grants to support 85 local park projects across the state.

“Our parks are leading providers of recreation and leisure opportunities,” Bennett said. “These grants are a tremendous investment in our state’s quality of life and will allow our park districts to get these important projects off the ground.”  

The OSLAD program began in 1987 and has invested $403.2 million in 1,729 local park projects. The program receives dedicated funding from a percentage of the state’s Real Estate Transfer Tax.

For more information about the park projects, please visit champaignparks.com or urbanaparks.org.

OSLAD grant recipients include the Champaign Park District receiving $347,000 and the Urbana Park District receiving $400,000.

CHAMPAIGN – Eight local school districts will receive more than $18,000 combined in grants through the Illinois secretary of state’s School Library Grant program, Senator Scott Bennett announced Wednesday.

The grants, which are issued by the Illinois State Library, are meant to help public schools offer more library books and materials to students.

“Fostering early reading and literacy skills in our youth is necessary for a child’s future success,” Bennett, a Champaign Democrat said. “I’m thrilled to announce these grants, as they are critical for central Illinois school libraries to continue to support learning and the development of literacy, creativity and critical thinking.”

Schools receiving school library grants include:

• Salt Fork School District #512 - $750.00
• Champaign CUSD #4 - $7,253.25
• Danville Community Consolidated School District #118 - $3,840.00
• Oakwood Community Unit School District #76 - $750.00
• Rantoul City Schools district #137 - $1,194.00
• Rantoul Township High School District 193 - $750.00
• Urbana School District #116 - $3,138.75
• Westville Community Unit School District #2 - $954.00

CHAMPAIGN – State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is partnering with the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) and the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce to host a free workshop about the Minimum Wage Tax Credit on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. at the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce (303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign).

On Jan. 1, the first phase of minimum wage increases took effect, raising the wage from $8.25 an hour to $9.25 an hour. Under the new law, small businesses are eligible for a tax credit, giving them a maximum credit of 25% of the difference between the new minimum wage and what each employee was paid previously.

“We need to keep small businesses competitive during this transition period,” Bennett said. “This informative workshop will help connect small business owners with updated information on the Minimum Wage Tax Credit to help offset the state’s minimum wage rate and ease their transition.”

Businesses and nonprofits with 50 full-time equivalent employees or less are eligible for the credit and can begin to claim on their quarterly Illinois Withholding Income Tax Returns.

Nick Austin of the IDOR will present at the workshop and provide assistance. Bennett urges small businesses to take advantage of this tax credit and participate in the February workshop.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact Senator Bennett’s office at 217-355-5252 or SenatorBennett.com, or visit IDOR’s website tax.illinois.gov.

CHAMPAIGN – Shocked and angered by a possible sexual assault political cover-up, State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is asking anyone with information to come forward.

The request comes in response to a WBEZ article regarding a 2012 email to officials within then-Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration that references someone keeping quiet about “the rape in Champaign.”

Senator Bennett issued the following statement regarding this incident:

“This is frightening and disturbing. Sexual assault allegations need to be taken seriously. If anyone has any information about this crime, please get in touch with authorities. This needs to be investigated and prosecuted. The public needs answers, people need to be held accountable and somewhere there’s a victim who deserves justice. The conduct I read in that email is disgusting and will not be tolerated.”

If you have information please contact:
• Champaign County State’s Attorney, 217-384-3733
• Illinois State Police, 217-278-5000
• Illinois Executive Inspector General, 312-814-5600