ELGIN – To help combat the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has been awarding a second round of Business Interruption Grants to struggling small businesses. State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) is pleased to announce that several local businesses were recipients.

“It is great to see many local businesses, which are the backbone of our community, receive such crucial help in a time of crisis,” Castro said. “Through no fault of their own, these businesses have been struggling, but now thanks to the BIG grants, they have a second breath of life. The pandemic has been difficult on all of us, and our businesses are no exception.”

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HANOVER PARK – With flu season in full swing, it’s important to take precautions to protect yourself and your family. In recognition of this, State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) is sponsoring a flu shot clinic in Hanover Park next month.

“Under normal circumstances, it would be a good idea to get a flu shot so that you and your loved ones can stay healthy throughout the flu season,” Castro said. “But this year, when flu season coincides with a global pandemic, the importance is even greater. We can’t let one dangerous disease let us get complacent about another, so I encourage everyone to sign up and get a flu shot.”

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ELGIN — State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) joined Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Human Services to announce $30 million in state funding for Immigrant Welcoming Centers across Illinois to support members of immigrant communities facing challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funding will allocate $18 million in funding will go to housing and utility assistance, $4.5 million will be used to support employment and job training services, and $4 million will be used to provide health care education. The remaining $2 million will go to a multilingual effort to reach Illinois residents eligible to receive support, and $1.5 million will be used for technical assistance.

“These Welcoming Centers will be an invaluable resource for immigrants in our area who may be having difficulties navigating through the many, sometimes complex, services that our state provides,” Castro said. “This would be true even in a general sense, but during a global health pandemic that has been shown to disproportionately impact communities of color, it could literally mean the difference between life and death.”

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ELGIN – With the seasons changing from summer to fall, State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) is warning drivers to be on the lookout for deer to avoid potentially dangerous collisions.

“It’s extremely important to be assertive while driving and to steer clear of deer to prevent accidents,” Castro said. “A collision with deer can cause massive damage to your car and could result in serious injuries, so increased awareness during times when deer activity will be increased is crucial to staying safe.”

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