Durbin Meets With South Suburban Coalition About Local Infrastructure Funding

Press Release

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with members of the South Suburban Coalition (SouthCom) to discuss the impact of the pandemic in their municipalities and the local government funding included in the American Rescue Plan. They talked about the need for increased federal investments in their communities through the American Jobs Plan. On the call, Durbin also provided an update about the ongoing infrastructure negotiations in the Senate and heard from SouthCom about their Technology Upgrade Project, which will fund technology upgrades at the Consolidated Dispatch Center that serves Matteson, Richton Park, Park Forest, and Olympia Fields.

"When I'm discussing federal infrastructure funding with my Senate colleagues, I have in mind Illinois communities like Park Forest, Richton Park, and Matteson, and the impact this federal support could have on their infrastructure and economic development," said Durbin. "My hope is that the Senate can finally come together to make these infrastructure projects a reality for SouthCom villages and communities across Illinois."

A photo of the virtual meeting is available here.

Attendees of the meeting included:

Mayor Jonathan Vanderbilt, Village of Park Forest
President Rick Reinbold, Village of Richton Park
Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Currin, Village of Matteson
Tom Mick, Park Forest Village Manager
Regan Stockstell, Richton Park Village Manager
Anthony Burton, Matteson Village Manager
Cathy Dorans, SouthCom Emergency Dispatch Director
Athena Barnes, SouthCom Emergency Dispatch Deputy Direct

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