CHAMPAIGN – State Senator Paul Faraci announced that 12 school districts across the area will receive over $4 million in evidence-based funding, in addition to the base funding provided by the state.

“Every child in our state, no matter what school they attend, needs access to equitable, high-quality education,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “The evidence-based funding formula ensures schools receive the resources they need so the students in our communities are met with the education they deserve.”

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 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.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Paul Faraci has solidified efforts to protect the Mahomet Aquifer – a vital sole-source aquifer supplying clean drinking water to approximately 800,000 people across 15 counties in East Central Illinois – with the signing of Senate Bill 1723 into law.

“Having access to clean drinking water is a fundamental human right, and too many of our residents rely on the Mahomet Aquifer to risk contamination to it,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “While mitigating the effects of climate change should be a priority, it cannot be at the expense of the clean drinking water of nearly one million Illinoisans.”

The law will prohibit carbon sequestration over, under or through the Mahomet Aquifer, enforcing sustainable practices and preventing harmful activities. This is crucial for residents of Central Illinois, as the aquifer is the only source of clean drinking water for at least half of the population it serves – meaning those residents would have no alternative should the aquifer become contaminated.

CHAMPAIGN – State Senator Paul Faraci, in partnership with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, announced a grantee in Champaign received $3 million in funding through the Tech Incubator Enhancement Grant Program – an initiative designed to support entrepreneurship and innovation in key growth industries throughout Illinois.

“Grant funding like this is a critical investment in our region’s future, making projects that help our businesses grow possible,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “This investment will strengthen and support our skilled workforce and reinforce our community’s position as a hub for innovation and business opportunity for generations.”

The TIEG Program was designed to modernize and revitalize tech incubators across Illinois to meet the evolving needs of startups. The initiative aims to support the transformation of tech spaces, fostering an ecosystem of innovation, collaboration and resilience. Through the program, four grantees were awarded a total of $7 million in funding to strengthen the resilience of both existing and new startup incubators.

CHAMPAIGN – In an effort to equip older adults with the tools and knowledge needed to outsmart today’s most deceptive fraud tactics, State Senator Paul Faraci is taking action to protect seniors from the rising threat of scams and identify theft with two upcoming fraud prevention seminars in the 52nd District.

“Too many seniors – not just in our state – are being targeted by scams that threaten their savings and well-being,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “The goal of these seminars is to empower older adults with real, actionable information to protect themselves and their families.”

Both occurring on Friday, July 18 at CRIS Healthy Aging locations, the Vermilion County event will be at 10:30 a.m. at 309 N. Franklin St. in Danville. In Champaign County, it will take place at 4116 Fieldstone Rd. in Champaign at 1 p.m. Attendees will learn how to protect themselves, friends and family from scam artists, fraudulent businesses, identity theft and phone spoofing. Faraci will also discuss how to check credit reports and file a consumer fraud complaint.