Award aimed at recognizing Illinoisans making a difference in rural communities

CHICAGO - Jan. 22, 2014. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon, chair of the Governor's Rural Affairs Council, is seeking nominations for the 2014 Rural Illinois Champion award. The award is a way to recognize and honor Illinois residents working to make a difference in rural Illinois.

"This award is a great opportunity to recognize the hard work of someone fighting to improve the quality of life in our rural communities," said Simon. "It is important that we acknowledge the unsung heroes in our rural communities. Whether you are trying to improve education opportunities, encouraging economic development or fighting to revitalize your community, I want to hear from you."

Any Illinois resident who is working to bring about change in rural Illinois communities can be considered for the award. Themes of service include : economic development and community revitalization, agriculture, education and empowerment, sustainability, public service, community and/or public health. Simon is asking for nominations to be submitted by Feb. 14 so her office can review and select a winner and announce it at the 25th Annual Rural Community and Economic Development Conference in Peoria on March 5.

A copy of the nomination form is available here and can be emailed to Maggie.Carson@Illinois.gov or mailed to the Lt. Governor's office in Room 414 of the Stratton Building, Springfield, IL 62706 care of Maggie Carson.  

Past award winners include Norm Walzer, founder of Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University, and Jerry Townsend, who worked nearly 40 years in rural development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Established by Governor's executive order, the Governor's Rural Affairs Council (GRAC) is tasked with improving delivery of state services to rural Illinois and expanding opportunities for rural residents to enhance their quality of life. As GRAC chair, Simon has recently advocated for equitable education funding and local food access.

Continues push to preserve food stamp funding

SPRINGFIELD - Jan. 16, 2014. With Congress poised to tackle expansive agriculture legislation in the upcoming weeks, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon is leading state-level discussions on the possible impact it will have on rural Illinois residents. During a meeting of the Governor's Rural Affairs Council (GRAC) today, Simon said she wants the farm bill to preserve the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) so that low-income residents can afford healthy food.

"A total of 49 million Americans live in households that are food insecure," Simon said. "Too often they have to choose between paying for food, rent, medicine or heat. SNAP helps address those incredibly difficult choices. We should work together to strengthen, not weaken SNAP."

A representative of Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), a member of the 2013 Farm Bill Conference Committee, provided a status report on the bill negotiations during the GRAC meeting. Representatives of the Illinois Farm Bureau also spoke about the importance of federal action to pass the farm bill.

Simon has submitted two letters to Congress in recent months, one asking that SNAP be protected from devastating cuts and another advocating for a well-crafted Hunger-Free Communities Incentives Grant that provides incentives for SNAP recipients to buy local food. The grant provision, currently in the Senate version of the farm bill, is a win for consumers, who increase their consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, and a win for farmers, who enjoy increased revenues, said Simon.

State Sen. Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) also discussed progress of the Education Funding Advisory Committee, which is examining the state's current education funding system and plans to propose a system that provides adequate, equitable, transparent, and accountable distribution of funds to school districts that will prepare students for achievement and success after high school. Simon, who serves as the state's point person on education reform, testified before the committee this week regarding inequities that often hamper rural school districts in Illinois.

Established by Governor's executive order and chaired by Simon, the GRAC is tasked with improving delivery of state services to rural Illinois and expanding opportunities for rural residents to enhance their quality of life.  Under Simon's leadership, the GRAC has worked to expand access to locally grown, healthy foods and enhance emergency medical services (EMS) in rural areas, as well as other rural issues.

Committee addresses economic, education concerns in military communities

SPRINGFIELD - Jan. 15, 2014. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon today announced the launch of a comprehensive economic impact analysis of active military bases in Illinois. The study, announced during a quarterly meeting of the state's Interagency Military Base Support and Economic Development Committee (IMBSEDC), is to be completed by October.

"We need the best information available to retain our military economy and grow the direct and indirect jobs it creates," Simon said.

The study will calculate the economic impact of the state's military installations and provide the data needed for Congressional, state and business leaders to protect Illinois' military economy at a time of federal cuts. Simon said bidding for the project will be begin shortly.

With shifting national budget priorities, force reallocations through the 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review, and the threat of future BRAC (base realignment and closure) rounds threatening key regions of Illinois, Simon says the statewide impact study will educate stakeholders and promote the importance of defense assets and the defense industry economy in Illinois.

The study will be commissioned by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce Foundation, in conjunction with the IMBSEDC. Created as an entity within Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in 2005, the IMBSEDC is chaired by Lt. Governor Simon. The impact study aligns with the committee's statutory duties regarding military base retention.

The IMBSEDC meeting also featured a presentation by military school liaison officers regarding the Illinois Educational Opportunity for Military Children Act, which is modeled on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children. Key education transition issues were discussed, including how to strengthen school policies regarding enrollment, placement in classes and extracurricular activities, access to kindergarten, and graduation requirements.

As chair of the IMBSEDC, Simon helps coordinate the state's activities and communications relating to current and former military bases in Illinois. Simon is committed to protecting the state's military operations, installations, and the families of those who selflessly serve our state and country.

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WATERLOO - Jan. 13, 2014.  Lt. Governor Sheila Simon will urge state leaders to overhaul the way schools are funded in Illinois during the final hearing of the Education Funding Advisory Committee (EFAC) this afternoon in Waterloo. Simon said the current formula hurts rural and high-poverty districts and should be changed before the 2014-15 school year.

"In our current system, the perennial losers are low-income and rural communities: those with the least local resources and the least political clout," Simon said. "Yet our state needs all students to succeed if we are to grow our economy and improve our quality of life. It will take guts to fund these schools equitably, but it is a moral and economic imperative."

Simon recommended several changes, including a cap on the state payments made to offset property taxes and the merging of transportation funds into the primary funding formula. She also asked the committee to tackle "proration," or the way the state handles payments when funding falls short. Districts that rely most heavily on state dollars should be cut at a lower rate than those who rely least on state funds, she said.

"The proration inequity has contributed to financial instability in districts across the state, and is most visible in North Chicago and East St. Louis. We will see more districts in jeopardy if we continue on our current path," she said.

Started by State Sen. Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill), the purpose of the Advisory Committee is to examine the state's current education funding system and propose a system that provides adequate, equitable, transparent, and accountable distribution of funds to school districts that will prepare students for achievement and success after high school. The Advisory Committee is comprised of eight members appointed by the Senate president and the Senate minority leader.

The Illinois State Board of Education notes that the Advisory Committee is required to consider the following when making its recommendations: the number of students in a school and school district and the level of need of those students; a school district's ability to provide local resources; transparency and accountability; revenue predictability; and the long-term implications and outcomes of the funding system. The Advisory Committee must seek input from stakeholders and members of the public on issues and possible improvements to the existing funding system.

Simon serves as the state's point person on education reform. In this capacity, Simon is working to increase the proportion of working-age adults with college degrees or certificates to 60 percent by 2025. As chair of the 25-member Governor's Rural Affairs Council, Simon is also working to improve the delivery of state services and education opportunities to rural Illinois.

A copy of Simon's testimony is available upon request.