Farmers' Market Nutritional Program available for qualifying Illinoisans

As part of the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, the Illinois Department of Human Services is providing booklets of coupons to qualifying women, children and seniors at nutritional risk for use with an authorized IDHS farmer at a farmers' market or roadside stand. Seniors have until Oct. 31 to use their FMNP benefits.

 

The program is aimed specifically at pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding women, children 1-5 years of age, and eligible seniors who are 60+ years old and who meet income guidelines.

 

To find out more about the program and whether you qualify, visit the Illinois Department of Human Services site or pick up your coupons locally at the DHS Family Community Resource Center in Pekin at 200 South 2nd St., Suite 20.

 

The Illinois WIC and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program can be reached with questions at (217) 782-2166. Seniors can also call the Illinois Department on Aging Senior Helpline at (800) 252-8966 for more information on how to apply.

American Rescue Plan funds available for local governments

Eligible local governments in Illinois are now able to claim over $742 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds.

With Illinois non-entitlement unit allocations from ARPA, eligible NEUs may claim their allocation by completing submissions to the NEU Portal.  Per federal guidance, NEUs that do not submit information by September 30th, 2021 will forfeit their allocation.

Local non-entitlement units eligible for funding:

Bartonville village - $831,026.95
Bellevue village - $278,549.69
Peoria Heights village - $785,621.59
West Peoria city - $605,631.45
Banner village - $24,741.85
Bryant village - $28,956.12
Canton city - $1,836,062.49
Creve Coeur village - $702,695.62
Cuba city - $159,054.73
Dunfermline village - $38,472.21
East Peoria city - $3,064,998.15
Fairview village - $64,029.72
Farmington city - $302,203.98
Glasford village - $130,098.61
Hanna City village - $162,045.50
Kingston Mines Peoria - $38,336.27
Lewistown city - $291,736.27
Liverpool village - $16,721.14
Manito village - $202,013.10
Mapleton village - $36,568.99
Marquette Heights city - $359,572.43
Norris village - $27,188.84
North Pekin village - $210,033.80
Norwood village - $62,398.39
South Pekin village - $148,587.02
St. David village - $71,642.60

Funds may be used to cover revenue losses, the costs of responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency, and invest in certain infrastructure projects. A full list of eligible Illinois NEUs can be viewed here.

Municipalities can register here to attend an informational webinar on Monday, July 26, 2021 at 10am. Those having techincal difficulties should reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 217-862-2730. 

Visit the DCEO website to learn more.

Rental assistance application closes this Sunday, July 18 at 11:59PM

For those of our neighbors who are still struggling to pay their rent, the Illinois Rental Payment Program (ILRPP) is still accepting applications for the current round of assistance until 11:59 PM this Sunday, July 18.
 
Applications can be completed at ILRPP.IHDA.org. 
 
The Illinois Rental Payment Program is an emergency rental assistance program designed to support households in Illinois that are unable to pay rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Neighbors who apply may be eligible for up to 15 months of assistance and a maximum grant amount of $25,000. The grant can cover the past due rent from the previous 12 months and future rental assistance for the next three months, if deemed necessary.
 
In the event that a property owner is unresponsive, the Illinois Housing Development Authority will provide an alternative pathway to complete the application.
 
If you have any questions or need assistance completing your application, you can reach out to an area Housing Stability Service Provider. We recommend reaching out to one of the providers listed below.

METEC
2605 W. Krause Ave.
Peoria, Illinois 61605
www.metechrc.org
(309) 676-3832

Navicore Solutions
416 Main Street, Suite 431
Peoria, Illinois 61602  
www.navicoresolutions.org
(732) 409-6281

Peoria Citizens Committee
for Economic Opportunity, Inc.
711 W. McBean St.
Peoria, Illinois 61605
www.pcceo.org
(309) 671-3900

Koehler announces local organizations selected to aid small businesses in post-COVID economic recovery

PEORIA – State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) announced an expanded state program will help connect Peoria-area small businesses to financial assistance to help them recover from COVID-19.

“Our community is built on small businesses,” Koehler said. “They were hit hardest by the pandemic, and we need to make sure that they have the resources they need to recover and move forward.”

The community navigator outreach program, which helps connect small businesses to economic recovery grant programs, is expanding to include an additional 13 support organizations across the state, which were selected through a competitive process.

Navigator organizations will perform extensive outreach to small and hard-to-reach businesses to ensure that they are aware of the relief available to them, and will provide one-on-one assistance on relief grant applications.

“I would like to thank the Economic Development Council for the Peoria Area and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation for stepping up and being a resource to small businesses in the Peoria area,” Koehler said. “I want to see as many local entrepreneurs as possible get back on their feet.”

Small businesses can visit the DECO website or call (800) 252-2923 to learn more about recovery programs available to them.