Kane County Reporter

Senator Don DeWitte recently participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for Elgin Community College’s (ECC) new 150,000-square-foot Manufacturing and Technology Center. "It was a distinct privilege to attend and speak at the official groundbreaking," DeWitte stated. The project, which took six years to materialize, received bipartisan support. "This collaboration is proof that when Republicans and Democrats work together, we achieve tremendous results," he added.

DeWitte, an ECC alum, expressed excitement about the expansion. "This new center represents not just a building, but a gateway to future opportunities for our students and a boost to our local economy." The center aims to provide state-of-the-art training in critical fields such as industrial manufacturing, maintenance technology, HVAC-R, energy management, and welding. According to DeWitte, this will help meet the demand for skilled workers in Illinois.

The senator also hosted his second Senior Fair of the fall season in St. Charles last week. "I was glad to see so many local seniors come out and take advantage of the dozens of booths onsite," said DeWitte. He plans another Senior Fair on October 15 in Crystal Lake.

In addition to these events, DeWitte co-hosted a document shredding event in Pingree Grove over the weekend. "Thanks to all who dropped off their sensitive documents for shredding," he noted.

Upcoming events on DeWitte's calendar include I-CASH Unclaimed Property Day on September 24 in Algonquin Village Hall and a Coat Drive from September 30 to October 16 with drop-offs at his offices in West Dundee and St. Charles.

Government agencies across Illinois are facing an increase in cyberattacks. Data from the Center for Internet Security shows a significant rise in malware and ransomware incidents during the first eight months of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. Earlier this year, several government offices including the Illinois Secretary of State’s office experienced data breaches.

"All government entities must take the threat of cyberattacks seriously," emphasized DeWitte. Efforts are being made to upgrade equipment and enhance security awareness training.

Families enrolled in Illinois' Bright Start College Savings Program will see changes starting September 30 as TIAA takes over as program manager. Fees will be reduced by an average of 13 percent and a new mobile app will be introduced for account management.

To accommodate this transition, no transactions will be processed between September 25 at 3 p.m. and September 29. Full access will resume on September 30 at 7 a.m.