Illinois State Senator Laura Fine

Senator Fine receives ICED’s Legislator of the Year award

Details: Category: News; Friday, October 08, 2021 03:17 PM

05302021CM1363

SPRINGFIELD – The Interagency Committee on Employees with Disabilities awarded State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) with its prestigious Legislator of the Year title Thursday.

“I’ve always been a strong advocate for people with disabilities, and as a legislator I have been dedicated to fighting for their rights,” Senator Fine said. “From expanding dual credit courses for students with intellectual disabilities to ensuring representation from the disability community in statewide groups, we have made incredible advancements in our state, but the fight isn’t over.”

ICED supports state employees with disabilities and provides advice to state agencies in regards to disability-related issues of concern. The committee’s mission is to promote access, independence and opportunity for state of Illinois employees with disabilities.

The Legislator of the Year award is presented to a state legislator who has worked to advance the rights, opportunities or independence of people with disabilities through legislation.

“It is my distinct honor and privilege to accept the ICED Legislator of the Year award,” Senator Fine said. “I look forward to continuing our work together to ensure a better world for people with disabilities across Illinois.”

More information on ICED and its awards program can be found on the ICED website.

Senator Fine reminds local businesses to apply for grants before deadline

Details: Category: Press Releases; Thursday, October 07, 2021 12:30 PM

Get ready to get back to business! $5,000-$150,000 small business grants GLENVIEW – State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) encourages local businesses struggling from the pandemic to apply for the latest round of the Back to Business grant program before the Oct. 13 deadline.

Overall, the B2B program will provide $250 million in American Rescue Plan dollars for small businesses negatively affected by the pandemic. Grants will range from $5,000 to $150,000 per business and can be used to cover a wide range of operations, such as staff and overhead costs.

“Our community is already seeing firsthand how the Back to Business grant program can help keep our small businesses’ doors open,” Senator Fine said. “Any other local businesses seeking assistance must apply for this important funding before the upcoming deadline so the 9th District can continue to thrive.”

Priority is given to businesses in hard-hit industries, in hard-hit areas, and with revenues less than $5 million, as well as businesses that have not yet received any government assistance. Eligibility guidelines are also available in: Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Hindi, and Arabic.

Twenty businesses in the district Senator Fine represents have already received $1.4 million in grants. They include restaurants, hotels and a salon, demonstrating the diversity of the local small business community and how many different kinds of businesses are eligible for grants.

Learn more about the B2B grant program and start an application on the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity website. The deadline to submit an application is Oct. 13.

Fine, Villivalam break ground at Molloy Education Center

Details: Category: Uncategorised; Monday, October 04, 2021 03:15 PM

State Senator Laura Fine at the Molloy Education Center groundbreaking ceremony MORTON GROVE – State Senators Laura Fine (D-Glenview) and Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) joined administrators, staff and other officials on Monday for a groundbreaking ceremony at the Julia S. Molloy Education Center in Morton Grove.

"The Molloy School is life changing for the most vulnerable students in our district," Senator Fine said. "This expansion will allow the school to continue its incredible work of educating our children.”

“This expansion will provide students throughout our community with a quality learning environment tailored to their needs,” Villivalam said. “I am proud to stand with our youth, parents and educators that serve our community today.”

The Molloy Education Center serves P-12 students with disabilities that require services not available in their home school districts. The center is open to students across Niles Township, which includes Skokie, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Golf and Niles.

“The Julia S. Molloy Education Center has a proud history of providing high-quality instruction to meet the educational needs of the students with disabilities who have attended over the past 50 years,” said Tarin Kendrick, Executive Director of the Niles Township District for Special Education. “We are proud to be part of a community who has committed to the Molloy Renovation Project to ensure the needs of today's learners are met.”

The last addition made to the Molloy Education Center was in 1998. The new project includes an expanded gym, administrative offices, training and conference rooms, larger classrooms, functional student spaces, space for support staff and an expanded parking lot. State Senators Fine and Villivalam secured $2 million for the project as part of the Rebuild Illinois construction program.

Evanston Public Library secures mentoring grant, Senator Fine announces

Details: Category: Press Releases; Wednesday, September 29, 2021 01:30 PM

Student with his mentor EVANSTON – Children in Evanston will soon benefit from a mentoring program at the Evanston Public Library that has received new funding, State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) announced Thursday.

“Many of us wouldn’t be where we are today without mentors taking the time to invest in us,” Senator Fine said. “This funding to provide mentors for our children is critical to open up doors for future success.”

The Evanston Public Library received $39,528 through the Project Next Generation grant program. PNG is a mentoring program established by Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White to help middle and high school students develop technological skills, achieve success through project-based learning and gain life skills such as effective communication, goal setting and conflict resolution.

“I am committed to improving the lives of at-risk youth in Illinois,” White said. “I established this innovative program when I first became Secretary of State to give students an opportunity to receive hands-on experience with the latest technological tools at their local library.”

The Secretary of State awarded $530,104 in 2022 PNG grants to 28 public libraries across Illinois. Grants are awarded to public libraries serving culturally diverse, low-income and underserved populations.

More information on the grants can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.

Welcome

Thank you for visiting my website.

I am proud to serve as the State Senator from Illinois’ 9th Senate District. I hope you’ll find this site a useful resource in keeping up to date with what’s happening in our district and in Springfield. Please contact any of my offices with questions or ways I can better serve you.

It is my honor to represent you in Springfield.

Sincerely,

Laura Fine Signaure