18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Elgin News Digest: Gail Borden, Fox River library districts receive state grants; ECC awarded $295,000 grant to expand EV technician training
The Illinois Secretary of State's office has awarded in $221,112 grant money to the Gail Borden Public Library District in Elgin and $105,506 to the Fox River Valley Library District in East Dundee.
Both per-capita grants are based on population and part of nearly $20 million in funding provided to library districts across the state, according to a news release.
'These funds are not designated to a specific project, but are helpful in enabling us to continue to provide the community with literacy resources, Internet access and many of our services and programs,' Gail Borden spokeswoman Natalie Kiburg said. 'We are so appreciative of this funding as it is essential to our community's vital resources.'
News of the state's grants comes amid federal cuts to library budgets nationwide.
In March, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to eliminate and defund the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which issues $180 million annually to libraries nationwide. Illinois receives nearly $6 million annually, the sixth highest amount of any state, according to the release.
Elgin Community College's Sustainability, Business and Career Technology division has been awarded a $295,794 RevUp EV Community College Initiative Grant.
The money will be used to expand existing programs and develop new coursework to support technician training in electric vehicle systems, including components of EV advanced manufacturing, according to a news release.
'This grant will help Elgin Community College stay ahead of the curve as the electric vehicle industry continues to grow,' ECC President Peggy Heinrich said in the release.
The initiative is part of a statewide effort to accelerate the development of EV infrastructure and workforce capacity in Illinois. It is administered by the Illinois Community College Board and funded by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
Elgin Community College Musical Theatre production's of 'Shrek The Musical' will be staged the weekends of July 25-28 and Aug. 1-3 at the school's Second Space Theatre in the ECC Arts Center.
The Tony Award-winning musical is based on the 2001 animated Dreamworks movie. ECC's production is directed by Cale Haupert with musical directors Marc Beth and Douglas Orlyk, according to a news release.
'At the heart of 'Shrek The Musical' is a truly beautiful love story,' Haupert said in the release. 'Shrek thinks there is no one in the world who would care for him, but he slowly discovers that he can find true friendship and more when he is brave enough to show the world his true self.'
Show times are 7:30 p.m. July 25 and Aug. 1; 7:30 p.m. July 26 and Aug. 2; and 3 p.m. July 27 and Aug. 3.
Tickets are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and free for ECC students. Elgin Township Senior Access Passes cannot be used to obtain tickets.
For purchase tickets, go online at call 847-622-0300 or go to the Arts Center box office.
