NEWS

from the Illinois Senate

State Senator Susan Garrett

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2008

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Susan Garrett (847) 433-2002

Garrett to Host Luncheon with Local Area Chambers
to Discuss
Hiring People with Disabilities

HIGHWOOD, IL— State Senator Susan Garrett (D – Lake Forest) is urging local business leaders to hear about the benefits of employing persons with disabilities and show that this pool of workers has much to offer employers to meet current and future workforce demands. Additionally, Garrett will unveil tax incentives that apply to businesses who hire people with disabilities.

Senator Garrett, in partnership with the Northbrook Chamber of Commerce; the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; and disabilityworks, a division of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, will host a multi-chamber luncheon event entitled, Putting Disabilities to Work: Success Stories and Tax Incentives for Hiring People with Disabilities, on Wednesday, September 17, 2008. The program is designed to educate employers and increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities throughout Illinois.

Additional Chambers of Commerce who will be participating in this event include: Northfield/Glencoe Chamber of Commerce; Glenview Chamber of Commerce; Highland Park Chamber of Commerce; Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce; Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce; Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce.

“This luncheon offers a tremendous opportunity for businesses to hear about the value of hiring people with disabilities, and at the same time, receive a tax benefit,” Garrett said.

“One of my top priorities as director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is creating equal access to training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Through our disabilityworks initiative, we are working closely with the business community to achieve that goal. I look forward to connecting with businesses in the North Shore area to further expand this commitment,” said Jack Lavin, Director of DCEO.