STATE

New scholarships are incentives to keep college students in Illinois

The state has established new funding to entice students to stay in Illinois for college.

The AIM HIGH grant pilot program will provide at least $50 million in financial aid for merit-based scholarships. The state is providing $25 million in the current budget year. Universities are matching that amount.

Gov. Bruce Rauner recently signed the measure into law, which was passed by the General Assembly with nearly unanimous support. The new law is designed to help Illinois colleges compete with out-of-state institutions that offer more financial aid.

According to the governor’s office, undergraduate enrollment at Illinois’ public universities fell more than 8 percent, or by more than 5,000 students, between 2011 and 2016. For example, enrollment at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb declined more rapidly during that period, falling almost 4,000 students, more than 17 percent.

Following on the heels of the AIM HIGH grant program is the recent announcement that The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will offer free tuition to qualifying students.

Students whose combined household income is $61,000 or less can qualify for free tuition starting fall 2019. University officials said they hope the program, called Illinois Commitment, will help make attending the school more affordable for middle-income Illinois families.

COUNTY

Volunteers are needed to teach adult literacy classes

The Peoria County Regional Office of Education’s Adult Literacy is looking for volunteers who are willing to teach in its Basic Literacy/English as a Second Language program.

No previous experience is needed. Interested people are invited to attend a Volunteer Tutor Training Workshop, which will be held 6-8 p.m. Sept. 11 and Sept. 17-Sept. 19 at the Lakeview Library, 1137 W. Lake, Peoria. The four-session workshop will teach volunteers how to tutor adults so they can improve their reading levels. There is no charge for the workshop, and all materials are free. For registration, call 309-672-6087. Also, adults who want to read better may call the same number. The service is free.

This program was made possible by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a division of the office of Secretary of State, with funds designated for literacy.

City fills two high-level positions

Debra O’Fallon

Nationwide search efforts found the two newest high-level Peoria city employees: assistant city manager and chief diversity and inclusion officer. 

The City Council has approved the hiring of Debra O’Fallon as assistant city manager, a position  that had been vacant since January when Chris Setti left to take the position of CEO of the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council. 

O’Fallon most recently lived in Seattle, where she worked for Amazon as senior finance manager. Before that, she worked for Caterpillar for 11 years as a senior strategy manager in multiple areas including maintenance services, purchasing and purchasing operations. O’Fallon received her bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology from the University of Illinois and her master’s degree in business administration (analytical finance) from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. O’Fallon will assume her new role Sept. 9, with a starting salary of $135,000.

Farris Muhammad

Farris Muhammad was hired as chief diversity and inclusion officer, a position unanimously approved by the City Council on Oct. 31, 2017.  Muhammad previously served as the executive director of the Multicultural Family Center in Dubuque, Iowa. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northwood University. He has a master’s degree in business management from Eastern Michigan University, and a doctorate in education administration and policy from the University of Georgia. Muhammad began his new job Aug. 27, with a starting salary of $92,000.

Food bank goes to the hungry

The Peoria Area Food Bank will go to those in need when its mobile food pantry sets up shop Sept. 10, at Madison Park Shopping Center from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. noon or while food supplies last.

The last time the mobile pantry met the public, it provided free groceries for 133 households in front of the old Kroger store at the shopping center in August.

This effort, however, needs volunteers, and food bank officials are looking for eight to 10 volunteers to help set up and distribute food. Volunteers are also needed to come to the food bank to sort and box food.

The Peoria Area Food Bank is a program of the nonprofit Peoria Citizens Committee for Economic Opportunity, Inc. For more information, call 309-999-3842.

Part of library to close during construction

Portions of the Peoria Public Library Downtown will be closed from Sept. 17-Dec. 3. The first and second floors at 107 NE Monroe St. will be off limits to the public during construction of a new heating and cooling system for the building.

The lower levels of the building, featuring the local history and genealogy section, the art galleries and the used book store, will remain open.

The HVAC system is original to the 1960s, and was not replaced during the building’s renovations in the last decade. Library officials say that the system can no longer be repaired. The replacement system is expected to be more cost-efficient and regulate temperatures better throughout the building.

The project cost is estimated at $1.65 million.

All other branch libraries remain open, and those who use public computers or the library’s WiFi are advised to visit one of those facilities.

Local early education efforts getting federal funds

Local Head Start and Early Head Start programs are getting new federal funds, as part of a $62.7 million package of funds for such programs around the state.

U.S. senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth announced the funding.

Peoria Citizens Committee for Economic Opportunity Inc. is receiving about $4.1 million. PCCEO coordinates Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Peoria. Head Start and its early counterpart are designed to help lay the educational foundation for principles children will use later in the classroom.

–Peoria County News Briefs–