ROCK ISLAND – With support from State Senator Mike Halpin and State Representative Gregg Johnson, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity recently announced the latest round of Back to Business grants awarded to businesses in the restaurant industry.

“The Quad Cities is home to many amazing small businesses that provide the community with places to go and jobs for our local economy,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “It’s great to see the state making investments back into these small businesses so they can plan for the future.”

The Back to Business grant program provides recovery grants for small businesses throughout the state, with an emphasis on businesses in the hardest hit industries. Through the Back to Business and Business Interruption Grant programs, DCEO has provided more than $535 million to more than 15,000 businesses since the start of the pandemic.

Nine restaurants in the Quad Cities area will receive a combined total of $360,000 through this round of Back to Business grants.

“This funding recognizes the impact small businesses and family-owned restaurants have on our area,” said Johnson (D-East Moline). “The COVID-19 pandemic hit us all hard, and it’s good to see funding coming back home to help small businesses for the long run.”

For more information about Back to Business grants, visit DCEO’s website.

SPRINGFIELD – A new law spearheaded by State Senator Mike Halpin marks a significant milestone in the expansion of the AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program.

“This will make it easier for students who live in Illinois to go to college in Illinois,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “We all want to keep more students in-state for college, and this new law will actually do something to help.”

Beginning with the 2019-20 academic year, the Aspirational Institutional Match Helping Illinois Grow Higher Education (AIM HIGH) program has provided merit-based, means-tested financial aid to first-time, full-time undergraduate students and transfer students who are Illinois residents attending any of the 12 Illinois public four-year universities. AIM HIGH-participating universities are required to provide matching funding for institutional awards for students who meet certain eligibility requirements, as well as those established by each individual university.

MACOMB – State Senator Mike Halpin announced that Galesburg and Macomb are set to receive a combined total of $3 million through the Community Development Block Grant for public infrastructure, which enables communities in non-metropolitan areas to make critical repairs to water, sewer, and drainage infrastructure to enhance safety and quality of life for residents.

“Clean water is essential to our daily life, but maintaining these complex systems is not easy or cheap,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “I couldn't be happier for Galesburg and Macomb for being awarded a combined $3 million for water and sewer infrastructure.”

Public infrastructure grants are designed to provide communities with funding to improve public infrastructure and eliminate conditions detrimental to public health, safety, and public welfare. As part of the annual CDBG program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity awarded $48.5 million for 41 infrastructure projects across the state. These projects include construction of storm sewer pipes, waterline replacements, hydrant and water storage tank construction, and other critical projects that help mitigate flooding and support sewage management, water delivery and other public water necessities.

SPRINGFIELD – A new measure sponsored by State Senator Mike Halpin that limits the cost of Epinephrine Auto-Injectors, commonly known by the brand name EpiPens, to a maximum of $60 per twin-pack was signed into law.

"We’re talking about something that is proven to save lives, and people aren’t able to afford it," said Halpin (D-Rock Island). "This law takes a swing at pharmaceutical companies who are lining their own pockets with profits on life saving medication. We are making EpiPens affordable and accessible for all residents of Illinois who require them."

Epinephrine Auto-Injectors are the only medication that works on the entire body to combat anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal allergic reaction. However, since 2017, a global shortage of these devices has made this medication increasingly difficult to obtain. Parts of the United States have experienced shortages since 2018, with the FDA permitting an extension of the recommended shelf life of EpiPens to combat the shortage.