CHAMPAIGN – State Senator Paul Faraci announced that three businesses in the 52^nd Senate District have been awarded grants through the Made in Illinois Grant Program.

“Our part of the state has so much potential and it’s good to see our small businesses get recognized for the important role they play in our economy,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “We have to invest in our local manufacturing businesses because we have seen what happens to our supply chains when we’re too reliant on overseas products.”

The program, which provides up to $50,000 in matching grant funding, is dedicated to fostering innovation and strategic advancements within the Illinois manufacturing sector. Forty recipients across the state were awarded a combined total of $1.7 million.

Clifford-Jacobs Forging Company in Champaign received $33,510, Double S Liquid Feed Services in Danville received $35,565 and Wagner Machine Company in Champaign received $47,420 in funds.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Paul Faraci advanced legislation to extend the Energy Assistance Act, which provides low-income households with financial assistance on utility bills.

“Every resident in our state should have access to essential services,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “The ability to heat or cool your home should be a fundamental right, not a privilege.”

Faraci’s measure would eliminate the scheduled sunset date on a state fund that finances two needs-based assistance programs – the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP). The fund was set to shut down Jan. 1, 2025.

CHAMPAIGN – State Senator Paul Faraci is encouraging residents to nominate an Illinoisan who has shown a fierce commitment to conservation efforts for the Illinois Conservation Foundation’s 2024 Outdoor Hall of Fame.

“Let’s celebrate a member of our community who goes above and beyond to protect our environment,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “Just last year, we had a resident from Champaign awarded with the state’s highest outdoor honor.”

Each year, a select few outdoor sportsmen and women, as well as conservationists and preservationists, will have the state’s highest outdoor honor bestowed upon them. Only those individuals who truly have made significant contributions or exhibited unparalleled dedication in preserving, promoting, enhancing or supporting natural resources or outdoor recreational opportunities will be eligible for induction into the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame. Previous Champaign-area inductees include David Monk and Glen Sanderson.

DANVILLE – To honor the life and legacy of the late Senator Scott Bennett, State Senator Paul Faraci joined elected officials, community members, as well as friends and family of Scott Bennett at a memorial to name portions of I-74 the "Senator Scott M. Bennett Memorial Highway."

“Senator Bennett continues to be remembered as a leader in our communities who dedicated his life to serving the people of Illinois,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “He will forever be missed, but his legacy will never be forgotten. This is one way we can continue to honor him for decades to come.”

Last spring, Faraci passed Senate Joint Resolution 32 designating I-74 from U.S. Route 45 in Champaign to the Indiana state line as the “Senator Scott M. Bennett Memorial Highway.” Today, the Illinois Department of Transportation placed signs along the interstate in his honor.

Scott Bennett joined the Senate as the unanimous choice to fill the vacancy in the 52^nd State Senate District in 2015. Since the beginning of his career, Senator Bennett dedicated his service to spurring economic development, supporting family farming, providing Illinois’ students with greater opportunities, and promoting bipartisanship across the state. As chair of the Senate’s Higher Education Committee, he was a champion for higher education facilities by advocating for funding and student rights.