Duckworth meets with Northwest suburban mayors on virus aid

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth met Saturday in Des Plaines with members of the Northwest Municipal Conference to discuss the importance of federal funding to help municipal governments recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19.

Conference President and Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering, Executive Director Mark Fowler, Vice President and Deerfield Mayor Dan Shapiro, Des Plaines Mayor Andrew Goczkowski, Hoffman Estates Mayor Bill McLeod, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, Hanover Park Village President Rodney Craig, Schaumburg Mayor Tom Dailly and Libertyville Mayor Donna Johnson participated in the meeting.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Treasury Department began accepting state and local government requests for funds to help COVID-19 response efforts, strengthen support for public services and help retain jobs, assist small businesses and address systemic public health and economic challenges. Illinois municipalities are eligible for $2 billion under the American Rescue Plan.

Duckworth said she has pushed for quick guidance from Treasury so local governments can get relief immediately and has called for maximum flexibility and fairness for local relief dollars. The conference comprises 42 municipalities and one township in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and McHenry counties.