SPRINGFIELD – With Illinois small businesses still reeling from COVID-19’s economic impact, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) is sponsoring a measure that will permit local municipalities to use TIF funding to help struggling businesses.

“Every day, we see another small business closing its doors,” Feigenholtz said. “This bill provides local government with one more lever to keep independent small businesses alive.”

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) would further streamline the state’s adoption process while removing redundancies and red tape.

“Reaching the final steps of the adoption process is a wonderful experience, but the final steps can be confusing and laden with red tape,” said Feigenholtz, who is herself an adoptee. “In an effort to make a challenging process less so, this bill fine tunes and clarifies some issues that often arise while finalizing an adoption.”

Industry leaders looking for green light to safely kick-start industry

CHICAGO – The first hearing of the Senate Tourism and Hospitality Committee, chaired by Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), convened earlier today to discuss an industry that has been hit the hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The hospitality and tourism sector generates nearly a million jobs among hotels, restaurants, cultural institutions, and supporting industries, and over 60% of those employed are from disproportionately impacted areas,” said Feigenholtz. “These jobs have been decimated due to the pandemic, and our focus needs to be on establishing a coordinated path and predictable plan to get this industry open and moving.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) will chair the first hearing of the Senate Tourism and Hospitality Committee at 10 a.m. Thursday morning.

The hearing will cover the strategic plan for COVID-19 recovery and relief in the hospitality industry and will feature testimony from representatives of various areas of the industry, including Sam Toia, President and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association; Michael Jacobson, President and CEO of the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association; Jayne Deluce from the Champaign County Visitors Bureau; and Cara Bader, representing the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.