Toro applauds $550,000 investment in local pre-apprenticeship programs

CHICAGO — More people in the 20^th District will have the opportunity to participate in pre-apprenticeship programs with the help of funding from the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program to support Metropolitan Family Services, State Senator Natalie Toro announced.  

“Trades and construction work is vital to our infrastructure and economy. We need to not only encourage more people to work in these industries, but also break down barriers to entry for people who are interested in these careers,” said Toro (D-Chicago). “I am hopeful this funding will encourage people to pursue apprenticeship programs and support organizations facilitating these opportunities.”

Thirty-six organizations around the state received grants through the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program, including $550,000 to Metropolitan Family Services. While the program launched in 2021, this is the first year Metropolitan Family Services has received funding to help increase diversity and access to apprenticeship programs.

• Women in Trades
• Pre-Apprenticeship Program
• Illinois Works

Read more: Toro applauds $550,000 investment in local pre-apprenticeship programs

Toro advocates for cyclist safety in new legislation

SPRINGFIELD — As a Chicagoan, State Senator Natalie Toro frequently bikes to and from work, home and businesses in the community. From these two wheels, she has noticed a glaring need for transportation plans to prioritize the safety of cyclists and introduced legislation to better describe safety features of existing bike paths and ensure cyclists are prioritized in future transportation plans.  

“It can be jarring to follow a designated bike lane and then feel the rush of cars driving past you. Some lanes are shared with traffic or are not as separated as they appeared from routing services,” said Toro (D-Chicago). “My legislation will establish clear classes of bike lanes to avoid confusion for cyclists choosing routes they feel comfortable with.”

Senate Bill 3202 would allow cities and counties to create bicycle transportation plans. These plans may include estimating the number of cyclists coming through the area, allowing planners and developers to use a data-informed approach when determining the number of bike lanes needed and potential new routes. Additionally, Toro’s bill would create four different classifications of bikeways — exclusive, shared, semi-exclusive or completely separate from motorists and pedestrians. Local governments will be required to include maps of the existing bikeways and their classifications in the transportation plans, allowing cyclists to make informed decisions on the routes they take.

• Transportation
• Bike Safety
• Cyclists

Read more: Toro advocates for cyclist safety in new legislation

Sen. Toro Joins Governor To Celebrate Illinois Film Industry Grant Awards

 I joined my colleagues and the governor to announce a $5 million investment coming to The Fields Studios in my district. I am so excited to see the impact this studio has on our community. It will create thousands of union jobs, showcase the talented filmmakers and actors of Chicago, and make an estimated $1.3 billion dollar impact in the next five years. I look forward to watching the great projects that will come out of Fields!

• 20th District
• Film
• The Field Studios
• Investment
• In District

Toro, Senate Democrats applaud announcement of 10 state-designated cultural districts

CHICAGO — State Senator Natalie Toro and other members of the Senate Democratic Caucus joined Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to celebrate communities across the state being honored as State-Designated Cultural Districts.

Senator Toro, who represents Humboldt Park, is thrilled her community is being recognized in this way.

“The Humboldt Park community has such a rich and vibrant culture,” said Toro (D-Chicago). “The State-Designated Cultural Districts Program and this official designation allows us to share and preserve our heritage and traditions while building a critical foundation for continued investment.”

“In Illinois, diversity is our strength, and the State-Designated Cultural Districts Program is shining a much-deserved light on some of our state’s most culturally and historically rich communities, including Puerto Rico Town,” said Majority Caucus Chair Omar Aquino (D-Chicago). “These designations will help Illinoisans celebrate our lineage and traditions of our communities.”

• Cultural Districts

Read more: Toro, Senate Democrats applaud announcement of 10 state-designated cultural districts