FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: info@champaigncountydems.com
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY BOARD DEMOCRATS PRIORITIZE PROGRESSIVE SET OF PROPOSALS FOR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, IL- On Thursday, September 30th, the Champaign County Board Finance Committee of the Whole will hold a special meeting to discuss the FY2022 budget, including the allocation of $41,000,000 from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The Democratic Caucus of the County Board is putting forth a progressive set of proposals to invest these historic funds into projects designed to improve the lives of many residents of Champaign County. These projects include community violence interventions, storm water investments and renovations in rural communities as well as the Garden Hills neighborhood of Champaign, protecting the Mahomet Aquifer, countywide expansion of broadband services, affordable housing, assistance for immigrant communities, expansion of vote by mail capabilities, as well as investments in improvements to county facilities and supporting small businesses.
“The goal of County Board Democrats is to invest in the people of Champaign County,” said Champaign County Board Chair, Kyle Patterson (D). “During this historic crisis, President Biden has given us the rare ability to invest tens of millions of dollars into Champaign County and the County Board Democrats are intent on prioritizing progressive projects that will help to move Champaign County forward out of these dark days caused by the pandemic and the indirect regressive impacts on our community. The time is now to act and the County Board Democrats are prepared to take bold, progressive steps towards recovery.”
“Over the past several months we held seven study sessions where we heard from elected officials and county staff,” said Finance Committee Chair Stephanie Fortado (D), “as well as dozens of community members and organizations, through written and spoken public comment and informational presentations. These study sessions allowed us to learn and discuss the immediate needs facing our County. This Thursday we will begin the process of taking what we heard and put it into concrete action.”