CHAMPAIGN - Senator Paul Faraci and Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs teamed up to return $47,000 in cash from two forgotten PayPal accounts to a small business owner in Champaign. The two accounts were part of roughly 360,000 unclaimed PayPal accounts the Illinois Treasurer has received in recent years and is safeguarding for as long as it takes to find their rightful owners.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, driving local job creation and ensuring the economic stability of our state,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “This story demonstrates the immense value Treasurer Frerichs’ unclaimed property program has for Illinois residents and businesses alike.”

Treasurer Frerichs safeguards billions in unclaimed property, including more than $51 million that remains to be claimed in Champaign County and over $20 million in Vermilion County. Most of the unclaimed assets belong to individuals and originate from forgotten bank accounts, unclaimed life insurance benefits and other investments. However, Treasurer Frerichs currently safeguards more than 360,000 PayPal accounts as well, which often belong to small businesses and nonprofit organizations that relied on companies like PayPal for internet purchases and donations.

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CHAMPAIGN – Building upon the smart infrastructure investments supported by Senator Paul Faraci, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced an additional $200 million in road and bridge improvement projects is coming to Champaign and Vermilion Counties.

“Fixing our roads and bridges is good for the safety of our community and our local economy,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “It’s good to see IDOT giving our area a fair share of the taxpayer dollars that go into infrastructure improvements.”

As part of IDOT’s latest Multi-Year Plan under Rebuild Illinois, the district Faraci represents will see 51 infrastructure projects totaling $201,626,000 over the next six years.

Some of the most vital projects coming to the area include:

• 7.24 miles of repaving and repairs to I-74 between US-150 and the Illinois/Indiana border.
• 3 miles of ADA improvements and repaving to US-45/Neil St. from Springfield Ave. in Champaign to Curtis Rd. in Savoy.
• 1.76 miles of repaving and median repair on US-136 between Rantoul Foods and Broadmeadow Elementary School.

Congratulations to Danville Area Community College’s newly-elected Student Trustee, DeCarlo Flagg!

CHAMPAIGN – State Senator Paul Faraci and State Representative Carol Ammons will be hosting a Mobile DMV event to give the community a one-stop shop to quickly renew their driver’s license or license plate stickers.

“Mobile DMV events are extremely convenient for our residents,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “By hosting this event, Representative Ammons and I are ensuring that community members have easy and efficient access to essential resources.”

The event will take place Friday, Aug. 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Urbana City Building located at 400 S. Vine St. Services being offered include renewal or correction of driver’s licenses, issuing, renewal or correction of a State ID, renewal of license plate stickers and more.

For more information, contact Senator Faraci at 217-355-5252 or visit SenatorFaraci.com.