MANTENO – State Senator Patrick Joyce joined community stakeholders and fellow elected officials to announce a new $2 billion electric vehicle battery gigafactory coming to Kankakee County.

“Gotion could not have picked a better place for this new factory,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “This is a huge investment in Kankakee County, and will result in good-paying jobs for residents.  This is a huge win for our region.”

Gotion’s new state-of-the-art EV battery plant will help bolster the supply chain and meet growing demand for batteries across the EV sector, including Gotion’s partners, as well as additional EV manufacturers across North America. The facility will focus on lithium-ion battery cell, battery pack production and energy storage system integration, and is expected to begin production in 2024.

As part of Illinois’ commitment to build out comprehensive EV hubs and support Illinois’ workforce, the state will also fund a new manufacturing training academy nearby as well as award an additional grant to workforce providers to expand training and prepare regional employees for the new jobs. The historic company investment will create over 2,600 new good-paying jobs in Manteno.

"This announcement is a huge win for Manteno, Kankakee County, and the State of Illinois, and will only enhance and strengthen our robust manufacturing sector,” said Timothy O. Nugent, Mayor of Manteno.

KANKAKEE— State Senator Patrick Joyce announced that nine school districts across the Kankakee and Grundy County areas will receive over $2.8 million in additional funding to help address the financial challenges of recent years.

“Our children deserve the opportunity to be successful,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “Through this funding formula we are providing our schools with the tools to ensure students receive a quality education regardless of their ZIP code or financial background.”

The funding comes from the 2017 Illinois Senate Democrat-backed evidence-based funding formula — an overhaul of the way the state funds K-12 education. The law made school funding more equitable by calculating the needs of individual school districts and basing its state revenue on those needs. The formula takes into account a district’s total enrollment, poverty rate and number of special education or English language learners, among other factors.

Local schools set to receive funding through the formula:

• Kankakee School District 111: $1,309,024
• Bourbonnais School District 53: $766,552
• Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School District 307: $577,462
• Bradley School District 61: $103,411
• Iroquois-Kankakee ROE Alternative School: $89,924
• Iroquois-Kankakee ROE Safe School: $23,185
• Braceville School District 75: $13,204
• South Wilmington Community Consolidated School District 74: $4,178
• Herscher Community Unit School District 2: $1,365

The Fiscal Year 2024 budget invested $350 million in new funding into students’ success through the evidence-based funding model.

For more information on the FY 24 evidence-based funding distribution, visit the Illinois State Board of Education’s website.

KANKAKEE— State Senator Patrick Joyce announced that four school districts across the Will County area will receive over $2.8 million in additional funding to help address the financial challenges of recent years.

“Our students are able to learn better and more efficiently when schools are provided with funding like this,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “Whether schools need new technologies, enhanced learning programs or infrastructure improvements, this funding will provide schools with financial relief to operate successfully and deliver the education our students deserve.”

The funding comes from the 2017 Illinois Senate Democrat-backed evidence-based funding formula — an overhaul of the way the state funds K-12 education. The law made school funding more equitable by calculating the needs of individual school districts and basing its state revenue on those needs. The formula takes into account a district’s total enrollment, poverty rate and number of special education or English language learners, among other factors.

Local schools set to receive funding through the formula:

• Crete-Monee School District 201-U: $1,527,202
• Manhattan School District 114: $1,169,138
• Wilmington School District 209: $155,830
• Reed Custer Community Unit School District 255: $1,232

The Fiscal Year 2024 budget invested $350 million in new funding into students’ success through the evidence-based funding model.

For more information on the FY 24 evidence-based funding distribution, visit the Illinois State Board of Education’s website.

KANKAKEE— State Senator Patrick Joyce announced that seven school districts across the South Cook County area will receive over $2 million in additional funding to help address the financial challenges of recent years.

“Evidence-based funding helps create a fair distribution of resources among different schools and districts throughout the state,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “By using this formula, we can ensure our educators and administrators have access to the tools to promote positive learning experiences for our students.”.”

The funding comes from the 2017 Illinois Senate Democrat-backed evidence-based funding formula — an overhaul of the way the state funds K-12 education. The law made school funding more equitable by calculating the needs of individual school districts and basing its state revenue on those needs. The formula takes into account a district’s total enrollment, poverty rate and number of special education or English language learners, among other factors.

Local schools set to receive funding through the formula:

• Steger School District 194: $737,039
• Chicago Heights School District 170: $383,131
• Bloom Township High School District 206: $288,286
• Flossmoor School District 161: $259,357
• Region 07 South Cook ISC School District: $178,902
• Park Forest-Chicago Heights School District 163: $118,847
• South Cook Intermediate Service Center: $103,648

The Fiscal Year 2024 budget invested $350 million in new funding into students’ success through the evidence-based funding model.

For more information on the FY 24 evidence-based funding distribution, visit the Illinois State Board of Education’s website.