OAKBROOK TERRACE – First-year students applying to any of Illinois’ public universities will now only need to submit one form on Common App, and State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) applauded the step to increase accessibility to higher education opportunities.

“Applying to college can be tedious and expensive,” Glowiak Hilton said. “By using Common App, Illinois is simplifying the process and working to ensure individuals have access to higher education opportunities.”

This fall, all 12 public universities in Illinois will be available on the Common App platform, thanks to a $1 million state investment.

For families concerned about the cost of submitting college applications, waivers are available for low-income students. In addition, some colleges and universities either have no application fees or will waive fees if needed.

“Many applicants and their families are hesitant to start the college journey because of the associated costs,” Glowiak Hilton said. “Luckily, there are several aid options available to help reduce the financial burdens associated with applying for college.”

Residents are encouraged to visit the Common App website for informational resources, including a first-year application guide, videos and a complete list of institutions that use the application.

OAKBROOK TERRACE – To recognize the efforts of small businesses, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) is highlighting recipients of Back to Business grants and encouraging residents to shop local as the holiday season approaches.

“To receive operating assistance from the state, nine locally-owned businesses were able to demonstrate financial loss from the pandemic,” Glowiak Hilton said. “By offering support to small businesses, Illinois is working to strengthen our communities.”

Awarded a combined $550,000, B2B grant recipients in the 24th Senate District include:

• Davanti Enoteca in Western Springs;
• Gia Mia in Elmhurst;
• Subway in Westmont;
• Maize + Mash in Glen Ellyn;
• CluedIn Escape Rooms in Glen Ellyn;
• Budget Inn and Suites in Glen Ellyn;
• Holiday Inn Express in Downers Grove;
• Jumpcut Pictures in Glen Ellyn; and
• Subway in Lombard.

The B2B program allocated $250 million in American Rescue Plan dollars for small businesses hurt financially by the pandemic. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $150,000 and could be used to cover a wide range of operations, such as staff and overhead costs.

“Shopping local can make a difference in our communities this holiday season,” Glowiak Hilton said. “Buying gift cards, recommending a local service or simply interacting on social media can offer support to our small business community.”

A full list of B2B grant awardees can be found on DCEO’s website.

OAKBROOK TERRACE – Patrons of nine libraries in the 24th Senate District will soon see upgrades to services thanks to more than $316,000 in grants, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) announced Wednesday.

“Libraries provide a safe space for residents to use a computer, check out a book or learn a new skill,” Glowiak Hilton said. “People rely on technology for work, school and everyday life—when they can’t access these resources at home, libraries can fill the gaps.”

The $316,086.62 received by nine local libraries is part of $18.1 million in grants awarded to 638 public libraries across the state. For more than 40 years, the Illinois Public Library Per Capita and Equalization Aid Grants Program has helped public libraries with a low library tax base to ensure a minimum level of funding for library services.

Libraries will use the grants from the secretary of state’s office to help fund new services and products, such as audiobooks, adult programming, dual language materials and more.  

“State funding helps libraries continue to provide much-needed resources to the community,” Glowiak Hilton said. “Students, seniors and families will reap the benefits of these grants at their local libraries.”

The following libraries in the district Glowiak Hilton represents will receive funds:

• Clarendon Hills Public Library, $12,496.20
• Elmhurst Public Library, $65,078.48
• Glen Ellyn Public Library, $40,488.75
• Helen M. Plum Memorial Public Library District in Lombard, $64,000.25
• Hinsdale Public Library, $24,803.60
• Lisle Library District, $42,043.40
• Oak Brook Public Library, $11,627.43
• Thomas Ford Memorial Library in Western Springs, $19,138.13
• Westmont Public Library, $36,410.38

For more information on the grants, residents can visit the secretary of state’s website.

OAKBROOK TERRACE – To give more residents the opportunity to visit her office with comments and concerns, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) is extending her office hours to accommodate the schedules of busy parents and working families.

Glowiak Hilton’s Oakbrook Terrace office, located at 17W715 E. Butterfield Road, Suite F, will be open until 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 27 and Wednesday, Sept. 29. The office is typically open weekdays until 4:30 p.m.

“With the school year starting, my office will be available to offer direct help for residents, families and business owners needing to access recovery resources for an extended amount of time,” Glowiak Hilton said. “I encourage anyone who needs assistance, has ideas or just wants to talk to attend.”

Glowiak Hilton invites residents to visit her office for help accessing state services and to discuss legislative matters directly. Masks are required indoors.

Appointments are encouraged, but not required and can be made by calling (630) 785-3177.

SPRINGFIELD – As businesses get creative to find ways to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, a law sponsored by State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) will offer a solution to help ease financial burdens.

“Local governments are capable of deciding what is best for the local business community’s financial future,” Glowiak Hilton said. “To provide support where it’s needed most, this law allows units of local government to determine where waiving fees would be beneficial to a struggling business.”

OAKBROOK TERRACE – To provide residents with a secure option for shredding documents containing personal information, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) is hosting an event in Elmhurst offering free, safe discarding services.

Shredding trucks will be available at York Commons, located at 665 S. York Rd., from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or until the trucks are full on Saturday, Aug. 21. A limit of two boxes of documents per car will be encouraged.

“Securely discarding vulnerable documents is a strong effort to protect yourself and your family from identity fraud,” Glowiak Hilton said. “Many of us have piles of old, unnecessary documents cluttering our homes, and I encourage families to take advantage of this free community event to safely dispose unwanted papers containing personal information.”

Examples of documents with personally identifiable information that should be safely discarded include bank statements, outdated medical records, tax returns, utility bills, junk mail, credit card applications and receipts.

For more information, call Glowiak Hilton’s office at 630-785-3177.

SPRINGFIELD – More survivors of violent crime will be able to keep their home addresses private as participants in the Illinois Address Confidentiality Program under a new law by State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) that expands protections for survivors of human trafficking.

“Violent crime survivors undergo substantial emotional and mental trauma,” Glowiak Hilton said. “By adding human trafficking to the list of crimes protected by the ACP, we’re offering survivors some peace of mind that their sensitive personal information is safe and protected against abusers.”

OAKBROOK TERRACE – After passing the General Assembly with strong bipartisan support, a new law sponsored by State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) will improve student access to mental health education and resources by allowing partnerships between state agencies.

“As our schools recover from numerous pandemic-related challenges, our state must prioritize our students’ well-being,” Glowiak Hilton said. “To ensure children are receiving the best mental health services at school, this proposal allows two key state agencies to work together to improve prevention and treatment resources.”

An initiative of the Illinois State Board of Education, Glowiak Hilton’s law allows board officials to collaborate with the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership (ICMHP) to give students access to a wider range of mental health resources at school.