Senator Durbin Visits Glenwood and Matteson |
On Wednesday, April 3rd, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, made several stops in the Southland including the Village of Glenwood to visit a recently designated historic Underground Railroad site. He met with Glenwood Village President Ron Gardiner and other elected officials, and local historians who were involved in the preservation and dedication of the Underground Railroad site and reflected on the journey of former slaves to freedom who were successful due to the bravery and assistance of ordinary, caring, open-hearted people.
Another stop within the Southland for Senator Durbin was to a fire station in the Village of Matteson to announce an award of $1 million in federal funding to SouthCom Combined Dispatch Center. Senator Durbin’s “earmark”, secured as a Congressionally Directed Spending allocation that was included in the recently passed Fiscal Year 2024 government funding bill for equipment and technology upgrades, will be used to facilitate rapid response times of First Responders in several south suburban communities.
See photos below:
|
|
Upcoming Meetings and Events
Visit our website for SSMMA's meeting schedule, Zoom log-in information, and meeting materials.
Environmental Justice Committee (Formerly Chicago Southland Housing and Community Development Collaborative) Meeting - Thursday, April 11 @ 2pm via Zoom
Little Calumet River Watershed Planning Council - Wednesday, April 18 @ 4:30pm via Zoom
SSMMA Business Meeting - No meeting due to Springfield Lobby Day on 4/17/24
|
|
Have you RSVP’d for Springfield Lobby Day Yet?
SSMMA Mayors and Managers: If you have not done so already, please finalize your plans to join SSMMA in Springfield on April 17th for the Illinois Municipal League’s (IML) Lobby Day. Mayors from around the state will be in Springfield to advocate for priorities that are their highest priority this year. Make sure you are there to make your voice heard!
In addition to IML scheduled activities (you must be registered to attend), SSMMA is scheduling meetings with Southland legislators and Springfield leaders as part of our annual drive down. Please firm up your plans and RSVP to SSMMA your plans to attend so you can be included in all activities. The schedule for April 17th includes:
9:00 - 11:30am – IML Briefing at Hoogland Center for the Arts
11:45 - 4:00pm – Governor Pritzker/Legislative Leader Meetings at State Capitol
4:00 - 5:00pm – Representative DeLuca’s Legislative Hearing–House Cities and Villages Committee
Discussion Topics:
- Preemption and Mandates
- Grocery Tax
- Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF)
- Pension Reform
6:30 - 8:30pm – IML Reception at Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum
Please contact Kristi DeLaurentiis at (708) 922-4670 or (708) 567-5156 to inform her of your plans to attend. Also, don’t forget to register for IML Events here!
See you in Springfield on April 17th!
|
|
Grant Opportunities and Resources |
|
• Funding opportunity for EV charging stations opens. Applications for funding must be submitted by May 7. Learn more.
• Check out two Funding Opportunities for Watershed Management Projects to Address Nonpoint Source Pollution. Learn more.
• U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $57 Million Available for Innovative Finance and Asset Concession Grants. Learn more.
• Find a list of grant opportunities for the state of Illinois here.
|
|
News from Community Partners |
|
Youth Opportunities Fair Tomorrow @ Hillcrest High School |
Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02) will host a Youth Opportunities Fair to connect students with year-round and summer opportunities - including employment, internships, volunteering, and various service programs for youth of all ages. The event is free for all attendees. Attendees can RSVP HERE.
WHEN: Saturday, April 6, 2024 | 11:00AM – 3:00PM
WHERE: Hillcrest High School | Field House | 17401 S. Pulaski Road | Country Club Hills
|
|
You're Invited to the Hike the Freedom Trail Tour! |
• Join the Little Calumet River Underground Railroad Project experts and hear the fascinating and historically accurate story of the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of escaped slaves called “Freedom Seekers” who traveled the Underground Railroad through the south Chicagoland region seeking freedom in the north prior to the U.S. Civil War.
• The tour is on April 27th and will depart from the Beaubien Woods Boat Launch from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Learn more.
|
|
|
|
LeadCare Cook County: A Program to Help You Comply with State Lead Service Line Replacement Requirements |
LeadCare Cook County, a program administered by the nonprofit Elevate and Cook County Government, offers free lead service line identification and replacement for home and center-based child care facilities. Through the program, a licensed plumber inspects the water service line and replaces it for free if it’s made of lead or galvanized material.
Municipalities are invited to partner with the LeadCare Cook County program to help share program information with child care providers and other stakeholders in your community. Elevate can provide helpful materials like fact sheets and testimonials and connect you with the program team to learn more.
Elevate will be presenting more information on this program at next week's Environmental Justice Committee Meeting: Thursday, April 11 at 2pm on Zoom. Please join us!
|
|
Moraine Valley Community College Hosting Annual Hiring Event |
• Join Moraine Valley College on April 25 at 9:00am until 12:00pm for their 2nd annual municipal government hiring event.
|
|
 |
ComEd Strategic Energy Management - Student Internship
• This internship is an opportunity for students interested in learning more about sustainability and energy efficiency, developing project management and peer-to-peer networking skills, and preparing for future professional opportunities.
• Application Deadline: Monday, April 15, 2024. Learn more.
|
|
|
|
The Powering Safe Communities Program Extended
• The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus is proud to partner with ComEd to administer the Powering Safe Communities program, which provides grants for local public safety and electrification projects. To learn more or apply, visit the Powering Safe Communities Program. Learn more.
• Powering Safe Communities Program has been extended to Friday, April 12th, 2024. Previously, the application deadline was March 29th, 2024.
|
|
|
|
Visit Chicago Southland May 23 Tourism Week Showcase Event |
|
|
|
Job Postings & Requests for Proposals |
• Municipalities and organizations can send job openings and proposals here to be publicly posted.
|
|
|
Mark Your Calendars for the 2024 SPC Vendor Showcase
The 2024 Suburban Purchasing Cooperative (SPC) Vendor Showcase will be held on Wednesday, July 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Oakton College, 1600 E. Golf Road in Des Plaines. The Showcase will be held in Rooms 1608 and 1610 with parking available in Lot C.
The SPC Vendor Showcase presents a unique opportunity for local government officials from the SPC’s participating councils of government and others to meet one-on-one with SPC vendors at one time. Northwest Municipal Conference (NWMC), DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference (DMMC), South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (SSMMA) and Will County Governmental League (WCGL) members and staff will be onsite to learn about the products, services, and solutions offered by the SPC to help you better serve your communities. Vendors will have individual display areas where you can discuss all your joint purchasing needs.
Surplus Vehicle & Equipment Auction on April 23
The spring SPC Surplus Vehicle & Equipment Auction will be held on Tuesday, April 23 at Americas Auto Auction (America’s AA) in Crestwood. Thank you to Lincolnshire, Palatine and Tinley Park, who have registered to participate in the sale. America’s AA offers a wide variety of convenient services to prep vehicles and garner the highest possible price. Please note that vehicles and equipment can be listed for disposal at the NWMC auction right up to the morning of the auction day. Sell them now to get a fresh start and please keep in mind that a portion of the proceeds helps support the operations of the organization. The remaining live auctions for the year will be held on July 23 and October 22. In addition, America’s AA hosts online sales on par with other government surplus Internet auctions. For more information, please contact staff or America’s AA Account Executive Berry Ellis, 312-371-5993 or berry.ellis@americasautoauction.com.
|
Have something you'd like included in our next newsletter? Email it to news@ssmma.org.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
