Simmons announces 7th District Small Business Restoration Grant deadline extended to Feb. 16

CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons announced that the deadline for the 7th District Small Business Restoration Grant has been extended to Feb. 16 at 5 p.m. to allow for as many 7th District small businesses to apply as possible.

The 7th District Small Business Restoration Grant is a result of $2.5 million in funds he secured to provide one-time, $10,000 grants to small businesses across the community last year.

“It is important that as many 7th District small businesses apply for this grant as possible,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Over the last year and a half, so many small business owners have stopped me in passing or come to our district office to request help. I am so proud to be able to secure this funding for our small businesses.”

The 7th District Small Business Restoration Grant was created in direct response to extraordinary challenges small business owners face - including the impacts of gentrification, rent increases, lack of credit, language access barriers, labor and inventory shortages, building issues, inflation, and more. The application is available in several languages, including Amharic, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Persian.

“This grant is specifically for small businesses in the 7th District and is intended for those who have missed out on previous grant opportunities,” said Simmons. “Thank you to the five local chambers of commerce for collaborating with our office, and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for their partnership.”

Full details on the grant, including the application and eligibility, can be found here. Applications are open until Friday, Feb. 16 at 5 p.m.

Simmons Fights Book Banning, Wins ACLU Award, Attends Menorah Lighting

Dear Neighbors,

The last couple of weeks have gone by fast. I’ve kept up the good fight to outlaw book banning in school curriculum. First, I went on CAN-TV last week and participated in an in-depth panel discussion on book banning with a writer-poet, several American Library Association staff and the Commissioner of the Chicago Public Library. You can watch the segment below.

Additionally, I attended a roundtable with the Illinois Library Association’s North Suburban and Chicago Libraries to discuss overall legislation important to libraries across Illinois. I was honored to join and represent our district, and share remarks about my efforts to outlaw curriculum book bans across Illinois along with my legislative anti-book banning work last spring. I also attended an elementary school this week where I discussed book banning with 5th graders! They gave me some new book titles to add to my queue this holiday break!

Lastly, I won an award from the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois yesterday for my legislative work in defending and protecting human and civil rights – specifically regarding my new law requiring child welfare agencies to use preferred pronouns of youth in their agencies.

I also organized and hosted a first of its kind job fair for returning residents at Truman College last week. It was a high point in my time in the Senate to see this come together so seamlessly thanks to the hard work of my district office staff. Check out the photos and recap of this awesome and inspiring district event below. We will be offering ongoing support for returning residents and those who are looking for jobs.

I’ve been out and about in the district attending two Hanukkah Menorah lightings, a small business town-hall hosted last week by Representative Hoan Huynh, a Midwest Legislators Roundtable on Biofuels, a meeting at my district office with CEO, Tracy Scott, of the Chicago Housing Authority and several constituent meetings. I love representing all of our neighbors in the 7th District and want to say thank you again for your confidence in me and my staff.

Read on for legislative updates, photo recaps from community meetings and events, and awesome resources for constituents toward the end!

Sincerely,
Mike Simmons

State Senator | 7th District

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 Simmons Receives ACLU of Illinois Legislator Award

Caption: Senator Mike Simmons and Senator Lakesia Collins receive the ACLU Illinois Legislator Award recognizing their overall commitment to defending human rights and protecting civil liberties alongside ACLU Director of Systems Reform Policy, Nora Collins-Mandeville.

I was proud to receive the ACLU of Illinois Legislator Award alongside Senator Lakesia Collins and several of my colleagues who have championed legislation that defends human rights and protects our civil liberties. I was recognized for my work in securing passage of House Bill 1596, which requires inclusive language in pre-existing state laws requiring child welfare agencies to honor, respect and use the preferred pronouns of children within their care and systems. This is a necessary and long overdue step in protecting the dignity and wellbeing of young people who have already been failed countless times by broken systems for decades. Thank you ACLU for this honor! I look forward to continuing the fight for human rights for all.

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Simmons announces $2.5 million in funding to launch 7th District Small Business Restoration Grant on Chicago’s Far North Side

CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons announced the launch of the 7th District Small Business Restoration Grant with $2.5 million in funds available to assist small businesses located in the 7th District.

“Small business owners across the 7th District have frequently reached out to my office or stopped me in passing to talk about the pressures they face. My staff and I have seen a clear trend of small businesses closing unnecessarily or prematurely in business corridors across the district,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “This initiative is in direct response to what we’ve seen, and will provide a much needed boost to entrepreneurs and mom and pop small businesses across our district who are struggling.”

The 7th District Small Business Restoration Grant is intended to provide funds to small businesses who have missed out on previous funding opportunities, are in danger of closure, are facing financial hardship and identify as historically underserved. Simmons secured funding in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget to provide one-time, $10,000 micro-grants to qualified small businesses operating in brick and mortar sites within the 7th District.

Caption: Senator Mike Simmons speaks with neigborhood business owners at 7th District Small Business Restoration Grant announcement.

"Across the city and country, small businesses are struggling to survive. We’re working hard to keep our businesses afloat, our staff well cared for, our communities engaged, our dreams alive. It’s challenging to compete with larger corporations that have more manpower, money, resources and buying power, but it’s also a part of business,” said Mia Sakai, owner of Ándale Market in Andersonville. “As little guys, we’re not looking for a handout, but simply to even the playing field. The creation of these grants will no doubt help numerous small businesses, like mine, that have faced a myriad of challenges since the pandemic.”

DMApothecary, a small business that features clean green beauty products in Rogers Park, recently endured multiple floods and a collapsed ceiling in the last 15 months.

Caption: Senator Mike Simmons with 7th District small business owners at 7th District Small Business Restoration Grant announcement.

“This upset to our very small business has placed us in direct peril of potentially having to close completely,” said Deirdre Austin, owner of DMApothecary. “This grant provides hope that we will be able to continue servicing our community and also carry out our personal legacy as a family owned business.”

“The 7th District Small Business Restoration Grant is a timely investment in the community that will help stabilize many small businesses,” said Simmons. “I am proud to be able to provide this funding and want to thank each of the five chambers of commerce and the community-based organizations that are working closely with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to ensure this grant initiative assists those who need it most.”

The grant is provided in partnership with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and facilitated by five local organizations:

• Andersonville Chamber of Commerce
• Rogers Park Business Alliance
• Edgewater Chamber of Commerce
• Uptown United
• Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce

“For 100 years, the Uptown Chamber of Commerce has provided its members with personalized service helping them address challenges they face. The last few years have been trying for our businesses – we see it with closures all along our corridors,”said Sarah Wilson, Executive Director of Uptown United & Uptown Chamber of Commerce. “Additional financial support is one of the most requested services we're asked to provide. We are thrilled to work with State Senator Mike Simmons, DCEO and our chamber colleagues in the 7th District to provide additional relief to our business neighbors.”

“Over the years businesses have faced many challenges. The shift in the restaurant industry since the pandemic lockdown, staff shortages and keeping up with the demands are some of the challenges we’ve faced,” said Almaz Yigizaw, owner and operator of Ethiopian Diamond Restaurant. “The grant will give us the chance to give back to our community who has supported us from the very beginning. This grant will offer us the chance to fully express the vision we’ve built for our restaurant, replenishing the spirit of the Ethiopian Diamond Restaurant.”

“As the son of two longtime small business owners, I am thrilled to launch this targeted and unprecedented assistance to the small businesses that are the hallmark of our district and its neighborhoods. Small businesses are really hurting right now from the lingering economic impact of the pandemic, inflation, neighborhood gentrification, rent increases, building sales, lack of credit, language barriers and other hardships,” said Simmons. “This grant will alleviate financial burdens so our small businesses can remain open, continue to grow, and continue to define and serve our communities.”

Applications for the 7th District Small Business Restoration Grant close Feb. 2, 2024 at 5 p.m. To apply or learn more about eligibility and application requirements, visit 7sbrg.org.

Simmons Speaks at Anti-Book Banning Event, Celebrates Transgender Awareness Week, Hosts Senior Fraud Prevention Event, and more

General Updates from Senator Mike Simmons

Dear Neighbors,

It’s been a glorious whirlwind of a few weeks. I am back in the district after the veto session, and continue to be out in the district meeting constituents where they’re at. Read on for a recap of the fall veto session and highlights from some noteworthy recent community meetings.

It continues to be a huge privilege and honor of a lifetime to serve our district as your state Senator, lifting up our people across the far north side and fighting for their rights and livelihoods. Thank you. Or as we say in Amharic, “Ameseh Ghenalou!”

Sincerely,

Mike Simmons
State Senator | 7th District

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Legislative Updates

Important Updates from Veto Session

Caption: Senator Mike Simmons addresses colleagues on the Senate floor in Springfield.

The General Assembly returned to Springfield this month to take up legislation vetoed by the governor. Below are a few key updates.

Nuclear energy moratorium ends

Currently, Illinois has 11 nuclear power reactors operating at six sites, which collectively produce about half of the state’s electricity. Out of a sense of concern, I voted against House Bill 2473, which was in response to the governor’s veto of legislation to lift the moratorium on nuclear energy in Illinois. We need to prioritize safety and environmental concerns and think more critically about long-term solutions, rather than quick fixes with long-term consequences. House Bill 2473 passed both houses and heads to the governor for further consideration.

Karina’s Bill

Thank you to the countless number of you who have written and called me urging support for Karina’s Bill, desperately needed legislation that is rooted in the safety of survivors and victims of domestic violence. Named after Karina Gonzalez, a survivor of domestic violence who was fatally shot by her husband along with her daughter this past summer in Chicago, “Karina’s Bill” would require judges to issue a seizure order along with orders of protection, while also mandating that law enforcement serve those orders and seize weapons from a domestic abuser within 48 hours. I am a strong supporter of Karina’s Bill, and released a statement urging support of Senate Bill 2633 to protect survivors of domestic violence from guns. I hope to see this survivor-first policy pushed through to the legislative finish line ASAP.

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