CHAMPAIGN – Champaign County small business owners will have the opportunity to attend a free Minimum Wage Tax Credit workshop thanks to State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign).

The event hosted by Bennett’s office, the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) and the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce will be held Feb. 11 from 2-3 p.m. at the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce (303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign).

“This informative workshop will help equip small business owners with the tools they need to apply for the minimum wage tax credit,” Bennett said. “Small business owners have the right to know about the changes to minimum wage to ensure they are taking advantage of possible savings.”

Nick Austin of the IDOR will present at the workshop and provide assistance to business owners. Bennett encourages 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. 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) applauded the governor’s signage of legislation which caps co-payments for insulin to $100 per month for all patients regardless of the supply they require.

“The price of this lifesaving drug has tripled in the past decade,” Bennett, a co-sponsor of the measure, said. “This new law stands up to corporate greed and ensures diabetics are no longer paying exploitative prices for a medication they cannot live without.”

The new law makes Illinois the second state in the country to cap out-of-pocket insulin expenses. The cap applies to commercial insurance plans regulated by the state and increases annually based on data from the Department of Insurance, the Department of Human Services and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. The data will include findings on insulin pricing practices and recommendations to control and prevent overpricing of prescription insulin drugs.  

“I am pleased that one component of combatting high prescription drug prices is being addressed in this bill, but I am eager to work with my colleagues to continue the fight to reform prescription drug pricing and out-of-pocket costs,” Bennett said.

State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) is the lead sponsor of the legislation.

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