SSMMA Newsletter October 18, 2024

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October 18, 2024

www.ssmma.org

Early Voting Sites to Open on Monday for Suburban Cook County Residents

Early voting in Cook County offers a convenient way for suburban residents to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day.

From October 21 through November 4, 2024, south suburban Cook County voters can visit any early voting location. Early voting is open to any resident interested in casting their ballots before Election Day.

Early voting is conducted on touch screens that store every ballot style in the county, permitting any voter in suburban Cook to vote at any location. First-time voters or new residents can also register to vote on-site. Find more information here.

Registration Open for SSMMA's Annual Holiday Dinner!

Register for the highly anticipated SSMMA Holiday Dinner on Thursday, December 5! Join us at Serbian Social Center in Lansing, for an evening of celebration, networking, and community building.

This festive event brings together local leaders, businesses, and stakeholders from across the South Suburbs. Don’t miss the chance to connect with fellow community members and reflect on a year of accomplishments while supporting future initiatives. The most festive attire will win a prize!

Become a Sponsor!

Showcase your business or organization and support the South Suburban region by becoming a sponsor. Sponsorship opportunities allow you to highlight your commitment to the community while gaining valuable visibility during the event. There are several levels available to fit your goals.

Additional Grant Opportunities and Resources

• SSMMA offers a list of grants here.

• Equitable Energy Future Grant Program (Notice of Funding Opportunity) Learn more.

• Rebuilding south Cook County: Road, bridge projects highlight another historic construction season Learn more.

• Rebuilding Will County: Road, bridge projects highlight another historic construction season Learn more.

• Find a list of DECO grant opportunities for the state of Illinois here.

• Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is accepting grant applications for green infrastructure projects, under the GIGO program. Learn more.

• Check out Will County's small business assistance resource page.

News from Community Partners

Applications Open for ComEd Future of Energy Scholarship Program

ComEd has announced a new application cycle for the ComEd Future of Energy Scholarship program. Now through November 3, 2024, students who are pursuing a future career in energy, either through a trades training program or a STEM-related college major, can apply for scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 each. Learn more.

Check out resources and materials from this week's Little Calumet Watershed Planning Meeting.

Find resources here.

CMAP announces the opening of the Unified Work Program (UWP) call for FY 2026 core budget proposals from Thursday, October 16 – Friday, November 1, 2024.

Completed workbooks (in Excel format only) should be emailed, with any supporting documents, to Kama Dobbs prior to 11:59 pm on Friday, November 1, 2024. Learn more.

The Chicago Food Policy Action Council (CFPAC) is excited to announce the upcoming launch of the next round of the GFPI Community Fund.

This fund specifically targets systematically marginalized farmers and food businesses located in Illinois, or within a 250-mile radius of Chicago, who desire to sell to community food access sites while striving to meet GFPP standards, including local production, sustainable practices, fair labor, animal welfare, and nutrition. Eligible applicants will have the opportunity to apply for grants ranging from $40,000 to $80,000 this fall. LEARN MORE.

The Chicago Southland has the hottest music acts, a wide variety of incredible cultural festivals, wonderful organic farmers markets, amazing art shows, and hundreds of theater performances throughout the region.

Check out some of the festive fall events happening during the month of October throughout the Southland by visiting the Visit Chicago Southland website.

Job Postings & Requests for Proposals

• SSMMA offers a list of local job opportunities and RFPs throughout the south suburban region directly on our website.

• Municipalities and organizations can send job openings and proposals here to be publicly posted.

SPC News

Last Chance to Register for the October 22 SPC Auction

As a reminder, the last live SPC Surplus Vehicle and Equipment Auction will be held on Tuesday, October 22 at America’s Auto Auction (America’s AA) in Crestwood. Please note that vehicles and equipment can be listed for sale 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 Conference.

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 Sales Executive Manager Maria Cortez, at 708-389-4488.

Check out the SPC Newsletter

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