SWANSEA – State Senator Christopher Belt joined the Illinois Capital Development Board and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services in announcing $200 million in funding to transform health care delivery and improve health outcomes in the state.

“Quality mental health care is essential for the well-being of adolescents,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Learning how to manage mental health at a young age can be challenging, but with resources like the Healthcare Transformation Capital Investment Program, we can support our youth and expand more mental health resources.”

The Healthcare Transformation Capital Improvement grants will build on HFS’ equity-driven Healthcare Transformation Collaboratives program, which was established in 2021. The goals of the HTC program are to expand access to care and improve health equity, especially in underserved communities, by leveraging shared resources among collaborative partners to create locally-driven solutions.

Of the 13 organizations selected for funding through the program, Touchette Regional Hospital, in the district Belt represents, is set to receive $15 million for construction of a new adolescent mental health wing. The new mental health wing will be integrated into the already under development Health Care Campus funded through the Illinois Healthcare Transformation grant previously awarded to Touchette Regional Hospital in 2021.

“These grants represent a significant investment in the future of healthcare across Illinois, particularly in underserved communities,” said CDB Executive Director TJ Edwards. “CDB is proud to partner with HFS to ensure these projects not only improve healthcare access, but also build stronger, more resilient healthcare infrastructure that will serve generations of Illinoisans.”

Find the full list of grant recipients here.

SWANSEA – State Senator Christopher Belt is joining the Illinois State Board of Education in inviting residents to nominate a local school board member for the Thomas Lay Burroughs Award, which is presented annually to an outstanding member of an Illinois school board.

“I served four years on a local school board and know firsthand how important their duties are,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “School board members put care and quality into their districts to enhance the value of our students’ education. If you know a board member who has continued to make a positive impact on their school district, I urge you to nominate them for this respected award.”

The Thomas Lay Burroughs Award was created in 1991 in memory of late ISBE Chairman Tom Burroughs and is presented each November at a conference hosted jointly by the Illinois Association of School Boards, the Illinois Association of School Administrators and the Illinois Association of School Business Officials.

SWANSEA — With strong support from State Senator Christopher Belt, three organizations in the 57^th Senate District are set to receive more than $212,000 in funding through library and literacy grant programs.

“This funding has allowed libraries and literacy programs all over the state provide the best services possible,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Libraries are full of opportunity for all ages, so it’s essential we continue to support them in whatever ways we can.”

The programs are administered through the Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias, who has awarded nearly $22 million for library services and $6 million for literacy programs throughout the state. The following organizations in the 57^th District will receive funding:

• Mascoutah Public Library - $34,840
• Southwestern Illinois College - $84,384
• MindsEye Radio - $93,626

SWANSEA – To enhance much-needed transportation improvements across the state, State Senator Christopher Belt joined the Illinois Department of Transportation in announcing nearly $9.5 million for 20 organizations to support their planning and developing efforts, including $600,000 for Bi-State Development Agency of the Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan District. 

“There is a lot of behind-the-scenes research that occurs before breaking ground on transportation projects,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “With Southwestern Illinois continuing to grow economically, the amount of transportation research projects do too, and I’m all for investing in these studies around the region that are bound to benefit our region in the long run.”

Administered by IDOT using $7.5 million in federal funds, with matching funds of $1.25 million from the state and $741,000 from local governments, the grants are designed to advance the objectives of the agency’s Long-Range Transportation Plan. Among the criteria considered were projects that implement asset-management strategies and performance-based planning and programming, as well as activities that grow and support economically distressed areas.