JOLIET – Families can get their kids ready to head back to the classroom by attending Senator Meg Loughran Cappel and Representative Natalie Manley’s Back-To-School Fair Aug. 13.

The free event will take place from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13 at the Joliet Public Library – Black Road Branch, located at 3395 Black Road in Joliet. Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) and Manley (D-Joliet) will be joined by community partners who can provide resources and referrals and a team from Brookfield Zoo, who will be on site for a live animal demonstration.

“With the school year right around the corner, it’s a perfect time to have an event that serves as a central location for programs that are available for people in our community,” said Loughran Cappel.

PLAINFIELD – The Illinois 10-day tax holiday on school supplies begins today, Aug. 5. Families and teachers can expect to have reduced shopping costs ahead of the upcoming school year, thanks to the support of Senator Meg Loughran Cappel.

“I know as a parent and educator, back-to-school shopping can be extremely expensive to teachers and families,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “This state sales tax holiday is a small way to reduce the financial burden on the residents of Illinois.”

Loughran Cappel cosponsored the bipartisan law that lowers the state tax rate on school supplies and eligible clothes and footwear from 6.25% down to 1.25% for 10 days, which starts today, Aug. 5 and will run through Aug. 14, 2022.

Loughran Cappel urges residents to shop and think local as they go out shopping.

PLAINFIELD – Thanks to funds distributed by the Illinois State Board of Education supported by Senator Meg Loughran Cappel, two local school districts will see a combined $100,000 for investments in education infrastructure.

“Students and teachers spend so much of their time in schools, so it’s important that their learning environments are up-to-date and safe,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “These investments reflect our state’s commitment to educating our next generation of leaders.”

A total of $30 million in 2022 School Maintenance Grants was distributed to districts across the state. To be eligible for the grants, applicants were required to match the state funds and commit to completing proposed projects within two years.

PLAINFIELD – To kick off Parks and Recreation Month, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel announced funding for investments in two local parks and forest preserves in Will County.

“Investments in our local parks make it easier for families and recreation enthusiasts to enjoy these outdoor spaces and helps our communities thrive,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “These grants will allow our parks to make critical improvements prioritizing the overall well-being of our residents and visitors.”

Open Space Land Acquisition and Development program grants are administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and support local park projects. When combined with local matching funds, the latest OSLAD grants provide more than $56 million in local park development projects and land acquisitions statewide.