The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal and the Illinois Finance Authority are pleased to announce that applications for the Ambulance Revolving Loan Program are now being accepted.

This program provides 10-year, zero-percent or low-interest loans of up to $100,000 for the purchase of ambulances to units of local government that provide ambulance services and not-for-profit ambulance service providers. (For-profit ambulance service providers are not eligible for this program.)

Applications must be postmarked no later than December 31, 2015.

Application materials can be found at http://www.sfm.illinois.gov/Fire-Service/Grants-and-Loans/Ambulance-Loan-Program.

Any questions regarding the Ambulance Revolving Loan Program or the application may be directed to Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, Division of Special Projects, at (217) 785-4717.

Last week, dozens of interested area residents and local government officials had the opportunity to listen to tax and budget specialist Ralph Martire of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability provide an unbiased briefing for attendees regarding how our state got into this fiscal crisis and how we can best get work together to get ourselves out of it.
Attendees also had an opportunity to ask questions and receive informative, research-based answers concerning one of the most pressing and complex issues we face today.

Students and parents came out to earlier this month to get plugged in with Illinois colleges and universities at Senator Lightford’s “Connect with your Future” College Fair. Local high school juniors and seniors from across the area were in attendance to listen to presentations, receive personal consultations and locate essential information to help them realize their higher education dreams.

Check out photos from this event below!

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