SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Michael E. Hastings fought for a significant milestone in the expansion of the AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program.

“This monumental legislation makes greater investments in our children,” said Hastings (D- Frankfort). “The cost of financing higher education can be overwhelming. The expansion of this grant program will help increase accessibility for middle class families at our state’s universities and colleges.”

House Bill 301 will make the AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program permanent, increase transparency in the program to allow more students to take advantage of it, increase access for part-time students and make changes to the matching requirements for the public universities.

Read more ...

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Michael E. Hastings joined members of the Illinois State Senate to support a Fiscal Year 2024 budget to promote fiscal responsibility, funding to promote mental health services and support our children’s education opportunities.

Hastings (D-Frankfort) released the following statement in response:

“The south suburbs have directly benefited from this year's state budget.  It is balanced, responsible and focuses on much-needed assistance to our local communities.  From paying down our pension obligations, eliminating debt and putting money in the Rainy Day Fund, this puts our state on sound financial footing and provides assistance where it is needed most."

“Locally, this budget focuses on increasing education funding to our local schools.  We have a lot to be proud of with the quality of education our children receive.  This budget invests in our children's future, while also assisting the teachers in our communities.  It funds our schools, community colleges, and public universities equitably and provides them the tools to educate our workforce.

Read more ...

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Michael E. Hastings urges local, eligible businesses to apply for the Blue Collar Jobs Act (BCJA) Tax Credit.

The program supports large-scale economic development activities by providing corporate income tax credits to companies that make substantial capital investments in Illinois. 

“The Blue Collar Jobs Act Tax Credit will generate new jobs and help expand our region’s economy,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “The Southland is a chief cornerstone in our state’s economic growth. This program is another opportunity to boost local businesses in our region and provide them with the support to promote further success.”

BCJA is a bipartisan legislative package designed to promote economic expansion and growth in Illinois by incentivizing construction projects. The initiative makes $20 million in tax credits available per year for eligible companies.

Read more ...

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Michael E. Hastings spearheaded a measure through the Senate that would allow the Tinley Park – Park District to renovate a degraded building into a sports park and recreational space for residents in the community to utilize.

“Tinley Park is a great place to raise a family, yet all this empty space has been ignored for over a decade,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “This has been an eyesore for the community, and something needs to be done about it.”

The former Tinley Park Mental Health Center site located on a 280-acre plot of land has been vacant since 2012. The facility was the last of 12 state-owned properties of its kind when its doors were closed a decade ago. Shuttered without maintenance and nestled in the heart of the village, the state-owned property underwent an environmental study in 2019 that lead to the discovery of numerous environmental concerns, including asbestos infested buildings and black mold, among others.

Read more ...