BUFFALO GROVE — State Senator Adriane Johnson reports twelve school districts throughout the area will receive over $6 million in funding to help address the financial challenges of recent years.

“Illinois’ previous approach to funding education contributed to racial and socioeconomic inequities in access to resources and educational outcomes,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “It is our hope to continue to bridge the educational gaps so children are afforded equitable education opportunities.”

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:

• Safe School-Lake County ROE: $57,573
• Gurnee School District 56: $108,081
• Waukegan Community Unit School District 60: $4,642,698
• Oak Grove School District 68: $759
• Hawthorn Community Consolidated School District 73: $60,048
• Mundelein Elementary School District 75: $859,865
• Kildeer Countryside Community Consolidated School District 96: $2,965
• Aptakisic-Tripp Community Consolidated School District 102: $39,318
• Lincolnshire-Prairieview School District 103: $1,568
• Adlai E. Stevenson District 125: $4,168
• Libertyville Community High School District 128: $3,076
• North Chicago School District 187: $388,442

The Fiscal Year 24 budget invested $350 million in funding into students’ success through the evidence-based funding model.

For more information on the FY 24 evidence-based funding distribution, visit the Illinois State Board of Education’s website

WAUKEGAN – With support from State Senator Adriane 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.

“Back to Business grants are essential to local businesses as they recover,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “These grants are what allow our local economy to thrive.”

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 over $535 million to more than 15,000 businesses since the start of the pandemic.

Eleven restaurants in Johnson’s district will receive a combined total of $520,000 through this round of Back to Business grants.

“Local restaurants are often the pillars of the community,” said Johnson. “Programs like the Back to Business grants allow these businesses to maintain their place within the community."

For more information about the Back to Business grant program, visit DCEO’s website.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) released the following statement after the Illinois Supreme Court upheld the state assault weapons ban:

“Our state holds a great responsibility to protect people from the continued act of gun violence caused by assault weapons. I am thankful the Illinois Supreme Court has stood steadfast in their decision to ban assault weapons, as no person should be able to easily acquire this level of weaponry.”

WAUKEGAN – Building upon the smart infrastructure investments supported by State Senator Adriane Johnson, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced an investment of $121 million in road and bridge improvement projects coming to the area.

“Through these investments, both local residents and tourists will be able to travel more safely,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “By investing in our infrastructure, we are investing in our communities.”

As part of IDOT’s latest Multi-Year Plan under Rebuild Illinois, the district Johnson represents will see 27 infrastructure projects totaling more than $121 million over the next six years.

Some of the most vital projects coming to the area include:

• Over $12 million in upgrades and repairs to US-45 on Buffalo Grove Road in Vernon Hills;
• Over $16 million in upgrades and repairs to IL Route 60/83 from Maple Avenue to the Canadian National Railroad crossing;
• Over $68 million in pavement rehabilitation and improvements to IL Route 60/83 to Midlothian Road in Mundelein and Long Grove;
• Over $2 million for bridge replacement on Belvidere Street over CNW RR and ILL 137 in Waukegan;
• Over $1 million in upgrades and repairs to Dugdale Road from 14^th Street to Argonne Drive;
• Over $6 million in upgrades and repairs to Greenwood Avenue west of Pershing Road.

These projects are part of IDOT’s Multi-Year Plan, a $40 billion investment in construction projects for the next six fiscal years. The project invests in all modes of transportation: roads and bridges, aviation, transit, freight and passenger rail, waterways, as well as bicycle and pedestrian accommodations.

“These investments won’t just bring forth safer, stronger infrastructure, they will bring forth good paying jobs to help stabilize our local economy,” said Johnson.

To find a full list of projects slated for the 30^th Senate District, visit IDOT’s website.