ARLINGTON HEIGHTS — The Arlington Heights Park District received a $600,000 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant to support ongoing improvement projects, State Senator Mark Walker announced Thursday.

“The Arlington Heights Park District continues to provide high-quality recreation areas for all to enjoy,” said Walker (D-Arlington Heights). “This funding will support ongoing improvements to expand and enhance community spaces that will be used for years to come.”

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – Literacy programs within the 27th District will receive over $290,000 in combined state grants, thanks to support from State Senator Mark Walker.

“Our community is fortunate to have literacy programs that empower individuals of all ages to develop the skills they need to succeed,” said Walker (D-Arlington Heights). “This funding will support their ongoing efforts to help residents achieve their personal and professional goals.”

Within Walker’s district, adult and family literacy programs will receive a total of $290,900. This includes $150,000 for Township High School District 214, $85,000 for The Center and $55,900 for Hanul Family Alliance. Grants will support programs that assist learners in enhancing their reading, writing, math and English-language skills.

A full list of grantees can be found here.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS — With the support of State Senator Mark Walker, school districts within the 27th District will see new funding this year aimed at enhancing educational and workforce training opportunities.

“In the House, I advocated for the creation of the Job Training and Economic Development grant program to improve workforce training opportunities throughout the state,” said Walker (D-Arlington Heights). “This funding will help support District 214’s career pathways programs in preparing individuals for their next step in life.”

Walker has secured $235,985 for Township High School District 214 through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Job Training and Economic Development program. This is the second round of funding from the JTED program, awarding over $15 million to 33 organizations across Illinois to bolster workforce training and wraparound services.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS –As a longtime advocate for greater investments in quantum computing development, State Senator Mark Walker is celebrating a major federal partnership in quantum research in the state this week. 

“Quantum research creates hundreds of local jobs, generates billions of dollars for our state’s economy, and keeps Illinois at the forefront of technological progress nationwide,” said Walker (D-Arlington Heights). “This partnership will help usher in the future of innovative technology, and ensure Illinois is front and center in these discoveries.”

Following past investments from Illinois into quantum research and infrastructure, Governor JB Pritzker, legislative leaders and representatives from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency announced Quantum Proving Ground, an ongoing partnership exploring the potential of quantum computing in Illinois. The partnership includes building a “quantum campus” where quantum computing prototypes will be tested and evaluated as part of DARPA’s new Quantum Benchmarking Initiative.

Quantum computing is rapidly-emerging technology that harnesses the laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems too complex for classical computers. It has the potential to revolutionize every industry, including  banking, logistics, air travel, and national security because it will be able to process data at incredibly fast speeds. The new facility will include shared cryo facilities, equipment labs, and spaces for both private companies and Illinois’ research universities to collaborate and research. The campus is projected to generate up to $60 billion in economic impact and create thousands of jobs.