State Senator Craig Wilcox | Illinois General Assembly
State Senator Craig Wilcox | Illinois General Assembly
Residents of the 32nd District have shown tremendous generosity by donating toys for the annual Toys for Tots drive. Phil Sweeney and Karena Bergendof of Toys for Tots were astounded by the overflowing bin of toys for children of all ages when they visited a legislative office to collect the donations.
Toys for Tots is a nationwide initiative where local communities hold collection campaigns to gather toys for less fortunate children. Coordinators, often Marines or members of local community organizations, work with social welfare agencies, church groups, and community agencies to distribute the toys.
In other news, the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) has selected Brian Duncan as its new president for the upcoming year. Duncan, a livestock and grain farmer from Ogle County, has been involved with the IFB for many years and brings a wealth of experience to the position. He served as the organization's vice president since 2017 and was the president of the Ogle County Farm Bureau for 13 years.
Two local trail systems in the 32nd District are set to receive a significant facelift with the announcement of $3.7 million in funding for recreational trail development projects. The funding, awarded by the Illinois Greenways and Trails Council, will support various projects aimed at improving trails and outdoor recreation facilities in Illinois. Among the recommended projects are improvements to the Three Oaks Recreation Area in Crystal Lake and the Thompson Road Trail System in McHenry County.
Illinois is also making strides in expanding broadband access across the state. The Illinois Broadband Lab, in collaboration with the Illinois Office of Broadband and the University of Illinois System, is deploying $1.04 billion in federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program funds. The program allows local governments, nonprofit organizations, and Internet service providers to challenge the accuracy of the FCC broadband map's designation of unserved and underserved locations. This ensures that federal resources are directed to areas where they are most needed. Interested entities can now pre-register for the upcoming challenge process and participate in webinars to learn more about the BEAD Program.
Furthermore, Illinois has launched the "Illinois Opioid Settlements Initiative" website to provide updated information about the $1.3 billion opioid settlement that will be received by the state by 2038. The website publicly displays information on settled lawsuits, funding allocations, approved abatement uses, and awarded organizations. It will also serve as the platform for future funding opportunities and resources for implementing programs and services related to the state's Overdose Action Plan and Opioid Allocation Agreement.
Overall, the 32nd District has shown immense generosity in supporting the Toys for Tots drive, while the Illinois Farm Bureau welcomes a new president. The state is also investing in recreational trail development and expanding broadband access, as well as addressing the opioid crisis through settlements and funding allocations. These initiatives aim to improve the lives of residents and enhance the overall well-being of the community.
Click this link to access more information: https://senatorwilcox.com/2023/12/11/toy-drive-a-tremendous-success-new-leader-for-il-farm-bureau/