Joyce encourages residents to pursue repairs from storm damage

KANKAKEE – State Senator Patrick Joyce is encouraging Kankakee County residents affected by the March 10 storm to begin pursuing repairs now that preliminary damage assessments are complete. The assessments were conducted by the Kankakee County Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

“My gratitude goes out to the officials at the Illinois Emergency Management Agency for their hard work over the last few weeks getting these damage assessments done,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “Now residents in the area can begin to rebuild what they’ve lost.”

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Joyce working to help fire departments purchase emergency vehicles

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Patrick Joyce passed a bill in the Senate that would increase the size of the loans that may be made to support purchases of emergency vehicles, all while cutting down on administrative costs.

“As our cities and towns continue to grow ─ local fire departments must grow with them,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “Our first responders need to be well equipped to keep our communities safe, and this bill helps them secure what they need.”

Senate Bill 3018 would establish that fire truck loan, fire station loan and ambulance loan programs must be paid out of locally held funds established by the Illinois Finance Authority instead of a special fund at the state treasury. In addition, the bill would raise the caps on allowable loan sizes for the programs.

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Joyce advances measure to expand assistance for first-time farmers

SPRINGFIELD – Young and beginning farmers often face substantial barriers when entering the agricultural industry. Along with high capital requirement early on, new farmers face intense pressure to manage cash flow while paying for equipment and infrastructure. In order to help new farmers get on their feet, State Senator Patrick Joyce advanced a measure that would assist first-time farmers with purchasing new equipment and real estate in light of changing economic conditions.

“With tariffs and the price of land continuing to squeeze farmers in Illinois, input costs can seem like an impossible hurdle for prospective farmers trying to get their foot in the door,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “Agriculture is still a top industry in the state. We must continue fostering growth in this vital sector.”

The Illinois Finance Authority, through their First-Time Farmer Bond Program, provides tax-exempt, lower-interest financing to help new farmers purchase farmland and make improvements.

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Joyce working to expedite safety decisions at problematic intersections

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Patrick Joyce is leading a measure to expedite safety and infrastructure decisions at problematic intersections on state roads in Will County.

“Our local communities have suffered some devastating losses after some recent accidents on state roads,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “These were roads that the community and local leaders knew had problems and flagged for review. With the risk of more crashes happening, we need to expedite this process.”

Senate Bill 3275 would require the Illinois Department of Transportation, in consultation with local agencies, to identify and conduct a road safety assessment of the 10 most hazardous state-controlled intersections in Will County located south of Interstate 80. The legislation would address delays faced by municipalities and counties in the 40^th District when seeking IDOT review.

By requiring a formal safety review and report to the Illinois General Assembly, the bill would prioritize potential fixes, such as design changes, traffic control adjustments or other safety measures, to reduce crashes and improve roadway safety in that region.

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