PEORIA – State Senator Dave Koehler secured nearly $250,000 to enhance four adult library and literacy programs in Peoria and Bloomington.

“In the current information age, strengthening your literacy and comprehension skills is more important than ever,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “This grant funding will ensure local programs can continue to offer programs to improve literacy, which can be transformative for people in our district and our community as a whole.”

The grants were awarded by Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias, who has awarded nearly $22 million for library services and $6 million for literacy programs throughout the state.

The goal of these grants is to enhance online catalogues, support day-to-day operations, expand interlibrary loan programs and equip vision-impaired individuals with narrations of newspaper content. The literacy grants are designed to promote basic reading, math, writing and English language skills.

PEORIA – To enhance much-needed transportation improvements across the state, State Senator Dave Koehler joined the Illinois Department of Transportation in announcing nearly $9.5 million for 20 organizations to support their planning and developing efforts, including $300,000 for the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission.

“Before breaking ground on transportation projects, it’s important for local groups to have completed research on the impact of these developments on the local ecosystem, infrastructure, and more to prevent potential issues,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “This investment will allow for many local projects around the state, including in Peoria, to complete this research more efficiently, allowing for the projects to commence and result in economic growth.”

Administered by IDOT using $7.5 million in federal funds, the grants are designed to advance the objectives of the agency’s Long-Range Transportation Plan. Among the criteria considered were projects that implement asset-management strategies and performance-based planning and programming, as well as activities that grow and support economically distressed areas.

SPRINGFIELD – Peoria residents and landlords will have a new tax incentive available to upgrade their properties, thanks to a new law passed by State Senator Dave Koehler.

“Every resident should feel a sense of pride in their home and community,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “This is a revitalization effort our community has wanted for a long time. We need to take the first step in building a better future for the greater Peoria area.”

Previously, only newly built single family homes and duplexes qualified for a tax break. Koehler’s new law extends this tax break to remodeled homes and duplexes in areas of urban decay, giving landlords and homeowners an incentive to upgrade their properties and revitalize neighborhoods.

PEORIA – Following financial challenges in recent years, State Senator Dave Koehler announced that 18 school districts across the area will receive nearly $8 million in additional funding to make needed improvements to classrooms and schools.

“Without proper investment in schools, from poor wages for teachers, a lack of modern technology or textbooks, and access to basic supplies like notebooks and pens, students aren’t able to learn to the best of their ability,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “Investing properly in our schools is necessary to set all Illinoisans up for success in their future, and I am proud that the evidence-based funding model has continued to take steps to more equitable outcomes in education.”

The funding comes from the 2017 Illinois Senate Democrat-backed evidence-based funding formula — an overhaul of the way the state funds K-12 education. The law made school funding more equitable by calculating the needs of individual school districts and basing its state revenue on those needs. The formula takes into account a district’s total enrollment, poverty rate and number of special education or English language learners, among other factors.

Local schools set to receive funding through the formula include: