Welcome to Senator Christopher Belt's legislative website

Belt encourages families to apply for energy bill assistance

SWANSEA – To combat rising energy prices, State Senator Christopher Belt encourages eligible families in the 57th District to apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

“Families in the Metro East work hard and they deserve some support to keep the lights on during hard times,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “With the LIHEAP program, those in need can get assistance when it comes to their energy bill.”

The LIHEAP program – which opens Oct. 1 – utilizes a priority application system to ensure that families most in need can apply first. All families who meet the qualifications and provide proper documentation will receive support until funding is exhausted. Families who earn up to two times the federal poverty level are eligible to receive support through LIHEAP. A chart with the eligible income thresholds can be found here.

Read more: Belt encourages families to apply for energy bill assistance

Belt announces additional funding to prevent food insecurity

SWANSEA – State Senator Christopher Belt announced new funding is available under the Illinois Grocery Initiative through the New Stores in Food Deserts, Equipment Upgrades and Grocery Rescue grant programs – representing a $26 million effort to address food deserts and prevent grocery store closures in communities across the state.

“The Metro East has been hit hard with grocery chain closures. Seeing the Cahokia Heights Walmart and the East St. Louis Save-A-Lot closed within days of each other in 2023 left our residents in a number of municipalities with even less fresh food options,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “As the Senate sponsor of the Illinois Grocery Initiative and a steadfast advocate of the program for the last three years, I’m incredibly proud to announce this current round of funding, ensuring communities across the 57th District have the opportunity to obtain new store funding, equipment upgrades and business incentives.”

The new Grocery Rescue Program will support efforts to reopen stores that have closed within the preceding 12 months. This program is designed to prevent long-term food access loss in low-access tracts, preventing the formation of new food deserts. Funding can be used for store acquisition, repair, refurbishing property and equipment and some first-year operating costs.

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Belt secures strong investment to expand Metro East’s workforce training

SWANSEA – In an effort to expand workforce training, State Senator Christopher Belt helped secure nearly $1.5 million to connect workers with the skills and resources they need to enter in-demand careers while helping employers build the qualified workforce they need to grow.

“We have so many wonderful organizations in the Metro East who just want to help people, and all they need is the funds to do it,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “I’m proud to see organizations like the Reset to Success Foundation, which helps at-risk youth get back on the right track, and businesses like Soulcial Kitchen, with their Food Truck Apprentice Program helping people with passion launch thriving, sustainable food businesses, receive crucial workforce training funding.”

Read more: Belt secures strong investment to expand Metro East’s workforce training

Belt encourages local organizations to apply for pre-apprenticeship funding

SWANSEA – To expand the 57th District’s talent pipeline and boost diversity in Illinois’ construction and building trades, State Senator Christopher Belt is encouraging local community-based organizations to apply for the latest round of funding through the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program. 

“We have a diverse group of hard-working people here in the Metro East that will directly benefit from this program,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Participants will have the opportunity to attend tuition-free trainings that will provide a direct path to long-time employment.”

The Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program launched in 2021 through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity with the goal of increasing access to apprenticeship programs to a more diverse pool of candidates. These comprehensive pre-apprenticeship programs help participants gain admission to apprenticeship programs, which provide graduates a greater opportunity to start a long-term career in the trades. Since the program’s inception, Illinois Works has awarded over $70 million to community-based organizations serving over 7,000 Illinois residents.

Read more: Belt encourages local organizations to apply for pre-apprenticeship funding