ELGIN – State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) released the following statement after Texas’ governor chartered buses to transport immigrants from Texas to Chicago as part of his aggressive border policy:

“I welcome these families and would like them to know that in Illinois, they will be treated with dignity and will be able to receive the services they may need. We stand for humanity and respect, and our policies reflect that.

"Also, I condemn Governor Abbott’s use of inhumane tactics on immigrant families and those seeking asylum. This malice only makes our state shine more as one of the nation’s most welcoming states.

“The City of Chicago is working with local and state partners to connect these folks with the support and resources they need. All Illinoisans will follow suit to embrace those who need a helping hand while providing the means they may require.”

ELGIN – State Senator Cristina Castro will join local state legislators to host a free job fair on Thursday, Sept. 8.

Residents can meet with local businesses and organizations that are hiring, connect with employment resources and potentially get the chance to be interviewed on-site.

“This will be a great opportunity for anyone who is looking for employment, searching for the right applicant, or just interested in learning more,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “I look forward to joining IDES and my colleagues to help connect our community to valuable employment opportunities.”

The job fair will be held in Building E at Elgin Community College, located at 1700 Spartan Drive, on Thursday, Sept. 8 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Castro will be joined by several elected officials, including Senator Villa and Representatives Hirschauer and Moeller. The Illinois Department of Employment Security will also be available to provide information about state resources to job seekers.

There is no cost to attend and free parking will be available. Job seekers can fill out the registration form here. Day-of registration will also be available.

Learn more and get the latest updates on the event’s Facebook page or visit Representative Hirschauer’s website.

SPRINGFIELD – Thanks to State Senator Cristina Castro’s support of the Illinois Works and Rebuild Illinois initiatives, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced another round of funding will be invested in Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program grants. The $15 million in funding will expand equity in Illinois’ construction workforce, grow the pool of highly-skilled apprentices and increase access to building trades careers more broadly.

The Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program is designed to increase the number of qualified construction and building trades apprentices who are women, people of color and veterans, and prepares them to enter full apprenticeship programs on their way to careers in the construction and building trades.

“A career in the building trades comes with so many benefits: a living wage, a dignified retirement, and opportunities to excel while helping to build our communities,” said State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin). “I am proud to support the Illinois Works initiatives as they continue to invest in our skilled workforce and create more opportunities for people of color, women, and veterans.”

The latest round of funding will provide grants to a statewide network of nonprofit, community-based organizations to provide free support, wraparound services and skills training to pre-apprenticeship candidates. The program will also provide stipends to ensure those enrolled in pre-apprenticeships have access to transportation, child care and other services that otherwise could serve as barriers to pursuing a career in the trades.

Passed by Senate Democrats in 2019, the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act is designed to promote diversity, inclusion, and use of apprentices in state-funded capital projects. The act created three major programs: the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program; the Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative, and the Illinois Works Bid Credit Program. Together these three programs aim to create a talent pipeline of skilled and diverse candidates to fill new job opportunities created by the act.

The deadline to apply for an Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program grant is Sept. 27, 2022 at 5 pm. Qualified community-based organizations can find more information about the funding and resources for applying by visiting the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

More information for those interested in enrolling in the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program can be found on the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s website.

ELGIN – Building upon the smart infrastructure investments supported by Senator Cristina Castro, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced an investment of more than $21 million in state and local road and bridge improvement projects.

“Illinois continues to make critical upgrades to our infrastructure, ensuring the safety of residents for years to come,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “These projects will not only improve commutes and increase safety along these routes, they will also create new jobs that contribute to our communities’ recovery.”

As part of IDOT’s latest Multi-Year Plan under Rebuild Illinois, the district Castro represents will see 23 infrastructure projects totaling more than $184 million over the next six years.

Some of the most vital projects coming to the area include:

• Replacing the bridge and interchange on Route 20 at IL-31 and along the Route 25 exchange
• Pavement maintenance and rehabilitation along IL-25 (Dundee Ave) between IL-72 and I-90
• Pavement preservation on Route 20 in Hanover Park, from Park Avenue to SE of North Avenue

These projects are part of IDOT’s multi-year plan, a $34.6 billion investment in construction projects across the state for the next six fiscal years.

The $34.6 billion will go to highway reconstruction and preservation, bridge improvements, strategic expansion, system support such as engineering and land acquisition, and safety and system modernizations. Over six years, the funding will be dispersed to improve more than 2,500 miles of roads and nearly 10 million square feet of bridges.

“From job creation to improved mobility, I am pleased to see this sizeable investment help grow and sustain our local economies,” Castro said. “These projects will help modernize our transportation infrastructure and equip our communities for the future.”

To find a full list of projects slated for the 22nd Senate District, please visit IDOT’s website.