CHICAGO – Senator Martin A. Sandoval (D-Chicago) has called the first-ever meeting of the Special Committee on Supplier Diversity to examine state universities’ commitment to including minority- and female-owned businesses in their contract selection.

Many public universities, including the University of Illinois, Northern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University and Eastern Illinois University, did not come close to meeting the goal to spend 20 percent of their contract dollars on minority- and female-owned businesses.

The purpose of this hearing is to find out why the universities fell so short and how they will succeed in achieving their Business Enterprise Program goals in the future.

“It is unacceptable and wrong that so many of our public universities would fail so miserably at meeting their goals to do business with women and minorities,” Sandoval said. “If women and minorities are good enough to pay the taxes and the tuition to keep these universities in business they are certainly good enough to do business with them as well.”

Representatives from several of the state’s public universities will be in attendance to discuss their commitment to the procurement goals established by the BEP, and to identify areas of improvement regarding the utilization of minority suppliers in the state procurement process.

“I look forward to hearing plans, not excuses, from university leadership," Sandoval said.

The meeting is scheduled for noon Tuesday, July 24 in room C600 of the Michael A. Bilandic Building at 160 N. LaSalle St. in Chicago. The media and the public are welcome.

Who: Senate Special Committee on Supplier Diversity

What: Public hearing to question Illinois’ public universities regarding their commitment to the procurement goals established by the Business Enterprise Program, and to identify areas of improvement regarding the utilization of minority suppliers in the state procurement process.

When: 12 p.m., Tuesday, July 24, 2018 

Where: Michael A. Bilandic Building, Room C600, 160 N LaSalle St., Chicago 60601

State program open to children 18 and under

CHICAGO – State Senator Martin A. Sandoval (D-Chicago) encourages families in his district to utilize a free summer lunch program administered by the state for children 18 and under.

“This program helps families meet their food budgets and helps close the summer gap for students that rely on the National School Lunch Program during the school year,” Sandoval said.

Children age 18 and younger can access free meals at sites across the state thanks to the Summer Food Services Program, which is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and administered by the Illinois State Board of Education.

“This is an underutilized program that offers great benefits to Illinoisans,” Sandoval said. “For those that think they don’t have an answer for feeding their families in the summer months, this is a great solution.”

To find the closes meal sites, call 800-359-2163, text FoodIL to 877877 or visit SummerMealsIllinois.org for more.