CHAMPAIGN – State Senator Paul Faraci was proud to accept the 2023 Legislator of the Year award from the Illinois Association of School Social Workers.  

"I am proud of the work we were able to accomplish this year to protect students and educators,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “School social workers play an important role in supporting our children, especially children living with disabilities.”

The Illinois Association of School Social Workers is the largest school social work organization in the world. Each year they honor legislators in Illinois who have worked hard to promote and advocate for students in the public education system.

Senator Faraci sponsored House Bill 3680, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2024. Under Faraci’s measure, extra accommodations needed for a student during emergencies must be taken into account when developing their Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a federal Section 504 plan. It also requires administrators and school support personnel to include a student's IEP team or Section 504 plan team when making a decision about whether to exclude the student from a walk-through lock down drill.

“I will continue to stand with educators across our state every step of the way,” said Faraci. “Educators’ roles are so important for our community, as they mentor the next generation and help them be successful.”

Faraci received the award at the Illinois Association of School Social Workers’ 53^rd Annual Conference in Springfield.

CHAMPAIGN – State Senator Paul Faraci announced that a combined total of $871,000 is coming to communities in Champaign and Vermilion counties to support local revitalization efforts.

“Excellent work is being done in our community to rehab deteriorating residential properties to get these homes back on the market,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “So much can be done to make our neighborhoods stronger and safer with investment in this program.”

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:

• Champaign County Regional Planning Council: $337,000
• City of Champaign: $135,000
• City of Danville: $399,000

"The Central Illinois Land Bank Authority is really excited for the five member communities that worked hard with us to prepare for this grant,” said Mike Davis, executive director of the Central Illinois Land Bank Authority, which will administer the Champaign County Regional Planning Council’s $337,000 grant. “Paxton, Westville, Georgetown, Oakwood and Ridge Farm are all interested in tackling blight proactively, and with the land bank's help, each community will now get $60,000 to address the most blighted properties they have. This IHDA grant follows $500,000-plus  in previous IHDA Strong Communities grants to the Central Illinois Land Bank for their anti-blight work Vermilion County communities — we're very grateful for IHDA's support."

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.

To learn more about the Stronger Communities Program, click here.

Brightpoint is sponsoring a free yard giveaway, including household items, decor, clothes, shoes, kids clothes, baby items and toys. The event will take place on Sept. 25 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Rantoul Community Service Center located at 502 E. Wabash Ave in Rantoul.