Local leaders joined State Senator Dale Fowler Thursday at the Carbondale Warming Center to announce a substantial grant to fully reopen the center back to a 24-hour shelter for the winter months. “The Carbondale Warming Center plays a substantial role in helping those who have fallen on hard times and need a place to go to stay warm,” said Senator Fowler. “When I heard the center had to scale back operations due to a funding issue, I knew we needed to act swiftly and seek any possible state funding available to get the shelter back up and running before the brutally cold months.” The Carbondale Warming Center was the recipient of a $150,000 Good Samaritan Grant facilitated through the Illinois Department of Human Services. “The Illinois Department of Human Services appreciates the work of community agencies that work with unhoused populations,” said IDHS Chief Homelessness Officer, Christine Haley. “We are pleased with this important step forward, which will provide more families and individuals with access to a safe and warm place to sleep.” Carbondale Warming Center Executive Director Carmalita Cahill says the 24-hour shelter was forced to cut operational hours down to 12 hours to accommodate overnights starting July 5, 2023. Starting August 4, 2023, the center was only able to operate 6 hours a day, serving as a daytime resource center for social services. “Our shelter is designed to care for those who cannot tolerate the existing homeless shelters across the area,” said Cahill. “A lot of the people who utilize our facility don’t have anyone or anything else and our staff are able to maintain our guests who are responding from a place of crisis.” The Carbondale Warming Center is a non-profit organization serving more than 300,000 meals since its December 2019 opening. Cahill says the shelter works closely with the City, which provides the building and covers the maintenance of the facility. “The Carbondale Warming Center gives our homeless population a place to go while having a warm meal to eat, fresh clothes on their back, and a shower. So many important things that some may take for granted,” said Carbondale Mayor Carolin Harvey. “This funding will ensure those using the shelter will have 24-hour care once again, especially during the winter months, and I want to thank Senator Fowler for his efforts in helping us secure this grant.” Cahill says the tentative plan is to fully reopen the shelter on a 24-hour basis starting November 15, 2023, through the winter months. Cahill says that date could change, based on weather conditions. |
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has unveiled an opportunity for private nonprofit organizations to apply for grants aimed at enhancing water treatment and waste disposal systems in rural areas. This initiative, part of the Water and Waste Disposal Technical Assistance and Training Grants program, strives to improve essential facilities for households and businesses in rural communities. Funds may be used for: - Identifying and evaluating solutions to water problems related to source, storage, treatment, distribution, collection, and disposal;
- Providing technical assistance and training to improve management, operations and maintenance of water and waste disposal systems; or
- Preparing water and waste disposal loan and grant applications.
Eligible areas for these grants encompass cities, towns, unincorporated rural regions with populations up to 10,000 residents, and tribal lands. Priority consideration will be given to projects serving areas with populations of fewer than 5,500 or 2,500 residents. Projects are expected to be completed within 12 months. Applications will be accepted from now until December 31, 2023, on grants.gov. For more information on the USDA Rural Development’s priority points and updates, please visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points. |
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will soon start incentivizing the purchase of electric vehicles with cash. Starting November 1st, state residents can earn up to a $4,000 rebate for the purchase of an all-electric vehicle or a $1,500 rebate for the purchase of an all-electric motorcycle. Applicants must apply for the rebate within 90-days of a vehicle’s purchase. The next application period will run from November 1, 2023 to January 31, 2024, or until funding runs out. For a list of eligibility requirements for the rebate, click here. The application and instructions will also be included on the listed website starting October 18, 2023. |
With the official welcome of fall on September 23rd, many households are already putting up their Halloween decorations. Typically, that means a lot of pumpkins, and luckily the Land of Lincoln continues to lead the nation in pumpkin production. According to the USDA, in 2021 Illinois harvested more than twice as many pumpkin acres as any other top state, at 15,900 acres. Illinois is home to two major pumpkin processors, including Nestle Libby in Morton and Seneca Foods in Princeville, Illinois, who produce over 85 percent of canned pumpkins sold across the US. The top 10 pumpkin-producing counties in Illinois are Tazewell, Kankakee, Mason, Logan, Will, Marshall, Kane, Pike, Carroll, and Woodford. |
Members of the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus are once again working to honor the sacrifices of veterans with a memorial at the Illinois State Capitol. The caucus’ memorial will be on display in the Capitol rotunda from November 7th to November 20th. It will feature a large electronic display of veterans and their stories, along with a wall where visitors can write notes of thanks to those who served. However, they need YOUR help to make sure that as many veterans are recognized as possible! Senator Fowler is encouraging friends and family to submit a photo and short story (less than 250 words) of their veteran by November 6th, so that it can be a part of the memorial display. Entries can be submitted to VeteransDay@sgop.ilga.gov. |
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