grant

Illinois community health centers get $245K federal grant

Aug 11, 2016 | WLSAM Staff

(CHICAGO) Seven community health centers across Illinois will split a $245,000 federal grant to help improve patient care.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin announced Wednesday the centers will each receive $35,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The facilities include Chestnut Health Systems Inc. in Bloomington, Southern Illinois University in Springfield, the Knox County Health Department in Galesburg and Esperanza Health Centers in Chicago.

The funds are for a model of care known as the “Patient-Centered Medical Home.” It aims to increase communication between patients and their doctors, better coordinate care and focus more on prevention and wellness.

Durbin says community health centers provide medical care to thousands of Illinois patients annually. He says the money will help provide higher-quality care and reduce costs.

Chicago’s airports receive $56 million in federal grants

Jun 12, 2016 | WLS-AM Staff

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago’s two major airports are receiving more than $56 million in federal grants for improvement projects and runway construction.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the Department of Transportation grants on Friday.

O’Hare International Airport is getting $45 million for runway construction and a taxiway system. Midway International Airport’s nearly $12 million grant will be used to improve a runway and minimize debris.

In a news release, Durbin says the grants “are crucial to traveler safety.” He says the money will help reduce runway wait times, moving travelers more quickly to and from Chicago.

U of Chicago to create $50 million entrepreneurship center

May 24, 2016 | WLSAM Staff

CHICAGO (AP) — The University of Chicago plans to create a $50 million entrepreneurship and innovation center.

The school announced late Monday that the center will be funded with a commitment of $50 million from University Trustee Michael Polsky, including a new $35 million gift. Polsky is the founder and CEO of Invenergy, which operates power generation and energy storage facilities in North American and Europe.

The school says the newly organized Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation will combine activities of UChicago Tech, which helps launch starts-ups, and the Chicago Innovation Exchange. The exchange opened in October 2014 and has 2,200 members. It is incubating 20 companies and providing capital to start-ups via the $20 million UChicago Innovation Fund.