ALTON, Ill. – To ensure all residents are counted in this year’s census, state Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, is reminding people to fill out the census.

“An accurate count for the census is vital to receive federal funding for projects that benefit education, health care and transportation across our region,” said Bristow. “Important decisions are based on census results each year, so be sure that you get counted so that our communities can receive their fair share of funding.”

The census is a count of the United States population that happens every ten years, as required by the Constitution. Data collected from the census is essential to determining the allocation of resources across the country and to determine how congressional and other legislative districts are drawn. The census will end on Oct. 31, but it is encouraged to complete it early. The 2020 Census can be completed confidentially by mail, phone, or online.  If you did not receive forms to fill out through the mail, visit my2020census.gov or call 844-330-2020 for more information. 

“The census is essential for everyone to complete because it has a direct effect on your community’s access to resources and your state’s representation,” said Bristow. “It only takes a few minutes to perform this civic duty that will benefit you and your community for the next ten years.”

ALTON, Ill. – To help residents properly dispose of documents containing personal or financial information, state Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, will be hosting a Community Shred Day with state Sen. Rachelle Crowe, D-Glen Carbon, and state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, at the Granite City High School on Saturday, Aug. 8.

“Although COVID-19 has interrupted many of my office’s usual services, my fellow legislators and I were happy to find we could safely host a community shred day for residents to safely dispose of old bills, documents, or other materials with personal information on them,” said Bristow. “Many shredding events were canceled due to the stay-at-home order, so we are happy to offer one now to help everyone shred their old materials securely and to help residents protect themselves from becoming a victim of identity theft.”

The shred day will take place in the front parking lot at Granite City High School located at 3101 Madison Ave. on Saturday, Aug. 8 from 9 a.m. until Noon. This event is free and open to the public.  Residents are encouraged to attend this event early, due to capacity limits for the shred truck.  Attendees should remove all paperclips, staples, and other binding prior to the event and will be limited to two boxes of paper each. Boxes, bags, and other containers cannot be shredded or discarded at the event. Attendees should also wear face coverings and adhere to social distancing when dropping off their materials.

“Although physical health and safety has been on our minds lately, it is also important to keep your financial health and safety in order by safely disposing of personal documents,” said Bristow. “I encourage everyone to go through their old mail and documents and stop by the shredding event to safely and securely dispose of materials you no longer need.”

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ALTON, Ill. – To help residents connect with free resources to assist with their financial management, state Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, is encouraging residents to access free weekly credit reports online.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has created numerous obstacles that have put financial strain on many families,” said Bristow. “As more people have to make tough financial decisions, it’s important that residents know what resources they have to get a better idea of their financial situation. It’s also important that people be aware of any changes to their credit that could alert them to potential fraud or identity theft.”

Due to the economic strain caused by the outbreak of COVID-19, Bristow is highlighting free weekly credit reports for residents that are uncertain about their financial situation during this crisis. Everyone is now eligible to receive their weekly credit report for free through Equifax, Experian and TransUnion until April 2021. For more information, visit www.AnnualCreditReport.com.  

“Although our economy is opening back up, it is important for residents to know where they stand financially, as well as any information that can help them plan for the future,” said Bristow. “I encourage residents to take advantage of this free service to better understand their financial health during the pandemic.”

ALTON, Ill. – State Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, is reminding residents about the Senior Illinoisan Hall of Fame nominations, which honors the hard work and achievements of Illinois residents that are age 65 and above across the state.

“Seniors make up such an important part of our community, especially here in the Metro East region, and this achievement helps recognize seniors who have provided major contributions to our communities and state overall,” said Bristow. “If you know of a special senior in your life, I encourage you to nominate them for this distinction.”

Applications are available through the Department of Aging and the deadline for applications has been extended until Monday, Aug. 31.  The online application form can be found at https://www2.illinois.gov/aging/HallofFame/Pages/default.aspx or by calling the Senior HelpLine at 1-800-252-8966.  Award nominations should fall into at least one of the four categories: Community Service, Education, Labor, or Performance/Graphic Arts. Eligibility is based on  the individual’s past and present accomplishments, as well as their status as an Illinois resident. Since the creation of the Senior Hall of Fame in 1994, 121 notable seniors have been inducted.

“It is important to recognize the contributions of senior residents that have positively impacted our community for so many years and contributed to making our region and state a better place to live in,” said Bristow. “This year has been challenging for many, and these awards help to recognize the good work that people are doing to help their neighbors and others around them.”  

ALTON, Ill. –State Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, is announcing the reopening of her district office in Alton on Monday, July 13. Residents will be able to make appointments by phone or email to receive assistance with state services in-person.

“We have reached a point that we can safely reopen the office to constituents to allow for in-person meetings,” said Bristow. “Although my staff and I have been working remotely throughout the pandemic to assist with constituent services and unemployment claims, I’m pleased to help offer in-person meetings again for those who wish to do so.”

The office will be open to schedule appointments from Monday until Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. To schedule an appointment, simply call or leave a message at 618-465-5900 or email RepMBristow@gmail.com. Bristow’s district office assists residents with unemployment cases, FOID card applications, and various other state services. All people who enter the office and physically able will be required to wear a face covering and adhere to social distancing rules. If you do not have access to a mask, one will be provided to all those who are able to wear one. Meetings should be limited to under 3 people at a time.

“As we begin to see our communities recover and our economy continuing to reopen, I’d like to thank everyone for their patience as we navigate this new territory and try to maintain safety for those that come in and out of the office,” said Bristow. “I encourage anyone who needs additional assistance for state services to call and make an appointment.”

ALTON, Ill. – To connect small business owners with economic relief, state Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, is highlighting the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) new Business Interruption Grant (BIG) Program.

“Restaurants, bars, hairdressers, and fitness centers have been hit especially hard by the temporary closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, so this program is essential for getting these types of businesses back on track as we move towards reopening,” said Bristow. “While there is still a lot of work to do to restart the economy, this program will help the business owners that have been most affected by the pandemic.”

Bristow is highlighting DCEO’s new BIG Program, expanding critical relief for business sectors that have been hit hard by state closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications must be submitted by Tuesday, July 7 at 5 p.m. The BIG Program includes support for:

• Bars and Restaurants – $20 million for bars and restaurants unable to offer outside, patio, and/or “al fresco” service, providing 1,000 grants of up to $20,000;
• Barbershops and Salons – $10 million for barbershops and salons, providing 1,000 grants of $10,000 each; and
• Gyms and Fitness Centers – $10 million for gyms and fitness centers that have lost significant revenue due to COVID-19, providing 500 grants of $20,000 each.

More details and the online application for the BIG Program can also be found at: https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/SmallBizAssistance/Pages/C19DisadvantagedBusGrants.aspx.

“As we continue to adapt to new guidelines and safety precautions, I will keep fighting to ensure small business owners and workers have the support they need to make ends meet,” said Bristow. “I would like to encourage everyone to keep shopping local and supporting the small business owners in their community.”

ALTON, Ill. – To help local homeowners, state Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, supported legislation to automatically renew property tax exemptions this year. Due to the strain of COVID-19 on communities around the country, this measure seeks to ease the burden for seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities by simplifying the exemption application process.

“As we continue to deal with COVID-19, it’s essential to find ways in which we can take burdens off of individuals, especially those at a higher risk for contracting the virus,” said Bristow. “The automatic renewal of exemptions will be one less thing for our seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities to worry about this year.”

Bristow supported Senate Bill 685, which will give a one-year application deferral for various homeowners that receive the Senior Freeze Exemption, Veterans with Disabilities Exemption or Persons with Disabilities Exemption. Normally, homeowners have to re-apply to these exemptions each year. This measure also suspended late payment penalties and tax sales for counties around the state.

“Property tax relief will continue to be one of my top priorities as I represent the Riverbend Region,” said Bristow. “Especially during this time of crisis, it is essential to continue to work on long term solutions towards desperately needed relief for homeowners.”

ALTON, Ill. – State Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, is highlighting a new measure to help families address challenges during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) recently announced $275 million in funding for numerous programs to help families around Illinois pay for rent, food, energy, and other emergency services. 

“The outbreak of COVID-19 caused a disruption in everyone’s life the past few months, including those that faced a loss of work and income. Some families have been struggling to pay for essential items, like food and shelter,” said Bristow. “The programs that are receiving additional funding from DCEO and the federal government will help working families make ends meet during this time.”

DCEO announced that these funds will go towards programs like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) programs. This funding also includes an additional $90 million allocated from the CARES Act that will allow the state to increase the eligibility of these programs to 1 million qualified Illinoisans.  Eligible Illinois residents and families can apply to receive assistance with food, rent, utilities, temporary shelter, medicine, and other vital services.  Bristow encourages those interested to visit www.helpillinoisfamilies.com to learn more and check eligibility. 

“The pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to our businesses, families, and community, but through bipartisan collaboration, we are seeing assistance and programs for those who need it the most,” said Bristow. “I would encourage anyone struggling right now to visit the website and see what relief and resources are available to assist.” 

To find the most recent information about resources and information regarding COVID-19 in Illinois, visit https://coronavirus.illinois.gov or call the Illinois Department of Public Health at 1-800-889-3931. 

 

ALTON, Ill. – To ensure consumers are maximizing their savings on energy costs this summer, state Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, is hosting an online Utility Bill Saving Webinar with the Citizens Utility Board on Tuesday, June 30 at 1 p.m.

“The pandemic has placed additional financial burden on families, so it’s important for people to learn about where they can save additional dollars, like their energy bill as we start to see warmer weather and usage increases,” said Bristow. “The summer months usually bring high energy costs, so it is best to get ahead to learn how you can save.”

The Citizens Utility Board is a consumer watchdog group that aims to protect Illinois consumers and promote fair energy prices. The Utility Bill Saving Webinar will focus on giving consumers tips to ensure their energy bills stay low and how to spot price gouging. The online session will be hosted via Zoom video conferencing. Those interested in registering for this webinar can sign up at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WLq8REwcR7mUlz0REPZ5jA.

“This webinar will equip attendees with the information they need to lower their monthly utility expenses and to stop any fraudulent or unneeded charges that may be on their bill, costing them more money,” said Bristow. “I encourage anyone that may have questions about lowering their energy, phone, or gas bills to tune into this online seminar or to reach out to my office.”

ALTON, Ill. – To help address the increased need for medical care and services as the state continues to respond to COVID-19, state Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, supported legislation to strengthen medical care for Illinois residents and create greater access for downstate areas.

“The pandemic has shown that we need to continue to invest in quality, affordable health care for Illinoisans, especially those in rural or downstate areas that often lack the same amount of access to services,” said Bristow. “In order to keep our communities healthy, investment in health care is crucial to battle future public health crises on a local level, as well as making sure that patients can have virtual access to services and appointments as needed.”

Bristow supported Senate Bill 1864, a bipartisan proposal that expands access to telehealth and mental health services. This measure also establishes the Health Care Affordability Act, which would direct state agencies charged with regulating insurance and health care to provide reports on real policy solutions based on studies tailored toward making healthcare more affordable.  In addition, this measure will aid those eligible for services like the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to prove eligibility for the program.

“As a strong advocate for mental health services, I was proud to support legislation that supports telehealth and mental health services for those struggling during this time,” said Bristow. “As we continue to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, strong health care services are the foundation for a strong recovery from this crisis and allowing for our communities to make the proper decisions to protect residents now and in the future.”