SPRINGFIELD – Minority owned business will be required to be included in statewide construction projects under a proposal sponsored by Senator Napoleon Harris, III. (D-Harvey) was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker Tuesday.

“In order to build a healthy and comprehensive economy, we must supply minority businesses with full and fair access to local and state contraction opportunities.” Harris said. “I applaud Gov. Pritzker for seeing the significance of this measure, and hope to see local governments taking advantage of the state’s model business enterprise program to decrease the inequality gap for minority, veterans and female-owned businesses.”

The Department of Management Services (CMS) would be required to automatically certify companies as BEP companies if they are registered with the city of Chicago, Cook County or any other jurisdictions with equal or greater requirements for certification when compared to the BEP requirements.

The Department would also need to create a model disparity study to be used by units of local government to examine their total number of minority owned companies and find ways to increase those numbers.

Senate Bill 177 also makes changes to the Illinois Apprenticeship Initiative by requiring contractors to utilize apprentices from the Illinois Pre-Apprenticeship Program on public works capital projects.

Under the measure, participants of the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program would receive a stipend or compensation while in the program.

SPRINGFEILD – On Tuesday’s National Day of Giving, State Senator Napoleon Harris III (D-Chicago) attended the Rocky Clark Memorial Scholarship Fundraiser at South Suburban College and donated $2,500 to the Rocky Clark Memorial Scholarship Fund.

"Schools across the state must continue to prioritize the education and well-being of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” Harris said. “South Suburban College is doing an amazing job to provide resources to promote equity for students with disabilities, and I am pleased to support this cause.”

The Rocky Clark Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 2012 to assist students with disabilities at South Suburban College. The scholarship was named after Rocky Clark, a former football player at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island.

Rocky was paralyzed during a game in 2000. After his injury, Rocky went on to receive his high school diploma, attend South Suburban College, coach football at Eisenhower and inspire many people. Unfortunately, Rocky died in 2012 from complications following the accident.

Following Rocky's death, Harris championed legislation that required high schools to provide catastrophic injury insurance to all athletes.

As of today, more than $20,000 has been given to more than 50 students since the scholarship was established.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Napoleon Harris III (D-Chicago) will help Will County residents stay

warm during the winter by partnering with fellow lawmakers to launch a winter clothing drive.

The Winter Clothing Drive will be from Nov. 25 to Dec. 13. Local and state elected officials will work with State Senator Jenifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) to provide organizations throughout the region with the necessary goods that benefit Will County residents.

“I’m honored to join my colleagues to make sure residents of Will County have access to warm clothing during these extreme winter months,” Harris said. “Winters in the Midwest are brutal and people need warm gear to be able to withstand the cold weather.”

Organizations are in need of all sizes of gently used or new winter gear including coats, socks, sweatshirts, scarves, gloves and more.

“As temperatures continue to drop this winter season, our neighbors, veterans and children will need the proper gear to stay warm,” Bertino-Tarrant said. “I’m spearheading this warm clothing drive to help ensure no one goes cold during these winter months. If you have coats, gloves, hats or sweatshirts laying around the house, please consider donating them.”

Harris urges residents to drop off donations at the following sites:

SPRINGFIELD – Minority owned businesses looking to participate in the Rebuild Illinois construction plan could soon find it easier to meet Business Enterprise Program (BEP) requirements under a proposal sponsored by Senator Napoleon Harris, III. (D-Harvey).

“Minority businesses have struggled from excessive bureaucracy, and it has forced them to miss out on state contracts,” Harris said. “This measure streamlines the BEP certification process to allow for more participation in the Rebuild Illinois program.”

The Department of Management Services (CMS) would be required to automatically certify companies as BEP companies if they are registered with the city of Chicago, Cook County or any other jurisdictions with equal or greater requirements for certification when compared to the BEP requirements.

The department would also need to create a model disparity study to be used by units of local government to examine their total number of minority owned companies and find ways to increase those numbers.

Senate Bill 177 also makes changes to the Illinois Apprenticeship Initiative by requiring contractors to utilize apprentices from the Illinois Pre-Apprenticeship Program on capital projects. Furthermore, it allows contractors to receive bid credits for utilizing apprentices from the Illinois Works Program.  

“Putting our local labor force to work through this significant state investment is one of the goals of the Rebuild Illinois plan, and that’s why it’s important to tap into the Illinois Apprenticeship Initiative,” Harris said.

Under the measure, participants of the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program would receive a stipend or compensation while in the program.