Castro welcomes over $2.7 million in small business relief to local restaurants, hotels

• Small Business

As the tourism and hospitality industries continue to bounce back from the last few years of economic hardship, State Senator Cristina Castro is congratulating 20 local businesses that will receive a combined $2,772,483 in the latest round of Back to Business grants.

“Through the Back to Business grant program, we’ve been able to make historic investments in our small business community while tackling the workforce shortage,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “Supporting our small businesses, especially those owned by minority entrepreneurs, goes a long way toward saving jobs and recouping losses so our communities can move forward.”

The Back to Business grant program provides recovery grants for small businesses throughout the state with an emphasis on businesses in the hardest hit industries, like restaurants and hotels. This round of funding will award more than $2.7 million to 20 businesses in Castro’s district.

Read more …

Castro announces $230,000 for local literacy programs, YWCA Elgin

• Adult Education
• Grants
• Elgin
• Literacy

Two local community-based organizations will receive more than $230,000 in combined literacy grants to grow and enhance their programs, thanks to support from State Senator Cristina Castro.

“The Literacy Connection and YWCA Elgin have a long history of serving and supporting the families in our community, and this investment ensures they can continue providing critical adult education and literacy programs to those who may not otherwise be able to access services,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “Not only do these funds support programs and classes for adult learners, they also benefit our youngest learners by incorporating literacy education into a family-oriented model.”

Two area agencies are set to receive a total of $230,485 to enhance community and family literacy and improve access to services. The Literacy Connection in Elgin will see $130,485 in family literacy and community literacy grant funding, and YWCA Elgin will see $100,000 in family literacy grant funding that will benefit children from birth to age five.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias awarded the grants through the Adult Literacy Grant Program, which helps learners develop and enhance their reading, math, writing and English-language skills. Family literacy projects funded through the program include both adult and child literacy services, delivered in holistic and family-centered models.

More information about the Secretary of State’s Adult Literacy Program grants can be found here.

Castro issues statement on assault weapons ban decision

• Statements

State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) issued the following statement Friday after the Illinois Supreme Court upheld the assault weapons ban within the Protect Illinois Communities Act:

“Today marks a historic step in ending the continuous gun violence in our neighborhoods and across our state. With a plan in place that bans these weapons, strengthens our ‘red flag’ laws and bans rapid-fire devices, the historic provisions in the Protect Illinois Communities Act will save lives and prevent further tragedies in every corner of our state.

“Reducing the ways dangerous people can obtain automatic weapons creates safer communities. As mass shootings become more and more common, and the use of military-style weapons continues unabated, more lives will be lost without action. Today’s decision shows the rest of the nation that Illinois continues to be a model for transformative change and progress, even when it seems impossible.

“All communities deserve to feel safe in their homes, schools, places of worship and public spaces. The tragic mass shooting in Highland Park last Fourth of July only intensified the need for action. I have heard from residents across the 22^nd District – families have had enough. If the federal government won’t step up to save lives and keep violent weapons off our streets, it’s up to us to keep our communities safe.”

To read the Illinois Supreme Court’s full opinion, click here.

Castro plan to increase transparency and choice in vision care marketplace signed into law

• 103rd General Assembly
• Vision Care Plan Regulation Act

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Cristina Castro that will give patients more freedom and flexibility to choose where to receive vision care services was signed into law Friday.

“This law ensures we prioritize patients and their eye doctors over insurance companies,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “Empowering people with information about their vision plan and the fees and services it covers is just common sense.”

The legislation creates the Vision Care Plan Regulation Act. Under the new law, insurance companies are prohibited from changing the terms, fees or reimbursement rates of a vision care plan during the contract term unless providers and the vision care organization agree to the terms. Castro’s plan also requires vision care providers to disclose any business interests they have with an out-of-network source or supplier they recommended to a patient. Upon the patient’s request, providers must offer in-network sources instead.

A 2017 study published in the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology found that vision impairments, loss or blindness could cost a person an average of $16,838 annually. That total does not include routine vision and eye care exams or care for a condition that is not associated with vision loss.

“Basic vision care should not be difficult to access,” said Castro. “No one should be forced to pay more for out-of-network care when affordable, covered care is available. Under this law, people have the right to ask for in-network referrals when needed.”

Senate Bill 764 was signed into law Friday and takes effect immediately.