I llinois American Water Opens Annual Environmental Grant Program

2023 Environmental Grant Program open to applicants; deadline to apply is March 31

BELLEVILLE, Ill. -- (BUSINESS

WIRE) -- Illinois American Water has opened the application window for its 2023 Environmental Grant Program. The program funds innovative, community-based projects focused on improving, restoring and watersheds.

For over 10 years, Illinois American Water’s Environmental Grant Program has supported diverse initiatives including watershed cleanups, reforestation, biodiversity, streamside buffer restoration, wellhead protection, hazardous waste collection, watershed education and more.

Rebecca Losli, Illinois American Water President, said, “We are committed to providing clean, safe and reliable water service to our customers. Our responsibility includes helping to protect our water sources. Our Environmental Grant Program allows us to support innovative projects within our communities to make a difference in our environment.”

She continued, “Since 2009, Illinois American Water has contributed more than $290,000 to over 90 projects dedicated to water source and environment protection.” grant for the Marilla Park Water Redevelopment Project. Funds were used to install a bi-level bottle filling station and pet hydration station.

To apply, organizations must submit applications for projects located in an Illinois American Water service area, and: Address a source water or watershed protection need in the community.

Be completed between May 1 and Nov. 30.

Introduce a new community initiative or serve as a significant expansion to an existing program.

Living Lands and Waters received a $1,000 for disposal costs related to their river clean-up program.

National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC) located in East Alton received a $3,150 grant to fund books and kits for a three-day teacher training symposium in July focused on watershed protection programs.

Nature at the Confluence located in South Beloit received a $1,000 grant to purchase an Enviroscape Model to strengthen their watershed-focused educational programming for K-12 students, scouts, adults and families.

Urbana Park District received a full grant request of $920 to support the Weaver Park Wetland Plant Re-establishment project.

Woodridge Rotary Club received a $2,300 grant to support the Native Plant Pollination Garden in Woodridge.

Customers can help protect our precious resources by using water wisely through the following actions:

Repairing leaking pipes and faucets. Using garden, lawn, garage or other home products which won’t impact groundwater.

Disposing of chemicals or other potentially harmful products properly by not pouring them directly into home drains, the sewer street drains or the lawn.

Political Affairs

REP. MAYFIELD REAPPOINTED CHAIRPERSON OF HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS-PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

State Rep. Rita Mayfield, D-Waukegan, will continue to take a leading role in facilitating public safety efforts across Illinois after being reappointed to lead the Appropriations-Public Safety Committee in the Illinois House of Representatives for the newly-begun 103rd General Assembly.

“I am pleased to have the opportunity to continue the important work in which I have been engaged during the next two years,” Mayfield said. “During the last General Assembly, we were able to move Illinois forward with several significant achievements including more funding for law enforcement, enhanced programs to address retail theft, car theft, gun crime and more. However, more work remains to be done and the coming session is the time to do it.”

The 103rd General Assembly began on Jan. 11 and will continue until January 2025. Mayfield was also the chairperson of the same committee during the recently-ended 102nd General Assembly, where she maintained a consistent record of no-nonsense, equity-focused legislative work, including her efforts to help successfully pass the historic SAFE-T Act.

“This committee’s work is at the intersection of two of the most important aspects of public service—keeping the public safe and ensuring responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars,” Mayfield said. “These are both areas of responsibility that I take very seriously, and I am excited once again to take on the challenge of ensuring they continue to be addressed in a balanced way.”

Mayfield’s constituent service office is reachable at 847-599-2800 or 60thdistrict@ gmail.com.

REP. DAVIS ANNOUNCES CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY FOR EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS

CHATHAM-SOUTHEAST

Chatham, Avalon Park, Park Manor,GreaterGrand Crossing, Burnside,Chesterfield, West Chersterfield, South Shore,and Calumet Heitghts.

SOUTH END

Washington Heights,Roseland,Rosemoor, Englewood,West Englewood, Auburn-Gresham, Morgan Park, Maple Park, Mt. Vernon, Fernwood, Bellevue, Beverly, Pullman, West Pullman, West Pullman,Riverdale, Jeffrey Manor and Hegewisch.

SOUTH SUBURBAN

Serves communities in Harvey, Markham, Phoenix, Robbins, Dixmoor, Calumet Park, Blue Island,SouthHolland,and Dolton.

Shopping- their favorite pastime!

HYDE PARK

Lake Meadows, Oakland, Prairie Shores,Douglas, Grand Boulevard, Kenwood, Woodland,South Shore and Hyde Park.

CHICAGO WEEKEND

Chicago Westside Communities, Austin and Garfield Park

SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY

BloomTownship, Chicago Heights, Flossmoor,FordHeights, Glenwood, Homewood, Lansing ,Lynwood, Olympia Fileds, Park Forest,Sauk Village,South Chicago and Steger

Citizen Newspaper Group Inc., (CNGII), Publisher of the ChathamSoutheast,South End, ChicagoWeekend,South

Be carried out by a formal partnership between two or more organizations. Provide evidence of sustainability (continued existence after grant monies are utilized).

Grant information and application forms can be found at www.illinoisamwater.com under the News & Community tab. Applications should be emailed to by March 31, 2023, to Mike Jones, Water Quality and Env. Compliance Supervisor, at Mike.Jones@amwater.com.

Last year, Illinois American Water awarded eight grants totaling over $14,000 as follows:

HeartLands Conservancy located in Southern Illinois received a $2,000 grant for the Watershed Adventures and Discovery Experiences Program (WADE) Phase 2. Funds were used to purchase trees.

Hickory Grove Elementary School

PTO in Dunlap received a $2,500 grant to support the group’s Outdoor Learning Center at Hickory Grove Elementary School.

Live Well Streator received a $2,000

Visiting www.illinoisamwater.com for more wise water use tips.

Customers can view their annual water quality report online at www. illinoisamwater.com.

Illinois American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services to approximately 1.3 million people. With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people in 24 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. American Water also owns and operates a quality control and research laboratory in Belleville. For more information, visit amwater.com and diversityataw.com. Follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Rep. Danny K. Davis announced that the City of Chicago and Cook County would receive a reallocation of emergency rental assistance funds from the U. S. Treasury for the second quarter, beginning in April. This funding is a result of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, enacted on March 11, 2021. The funds are provided directly to states, U.S. territories, and local governments. Grantees such as the City of Chicago and Cook County use the funds to assist eligible households through existing or newly created rental assistance programs.

Davis said, “Emergency rental assistance is of great need in the City of Chicago, especially in Cook County’s marginalized communities. This funding will help many people.”

The U. S. Treasury reallocated $422,807.14 to the City of Chicago and $2,561,988.87 to Cook County. Here is the website for additional information about the program: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/ coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/emergency-rental-assistance-program

For Chicago: https://www.chicago.gov/ city/en/depts/doh/provdrs/renters/svcs/emergency-rental-assistance-program.html

For Cook County: https://www.cookcountyil.gov/rent-help