Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials (TRRC) is requesting Proposals from experienced and efficient specialty Mechanical & Architectural contractors to support eligible Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) projects in Adams, Brown, Pike, & Schuyler County areas.

The scope of work includes air-sealing building structural bypasses, insulating attics and walls, replacing heating and cooling systems, and making incidental repairs related to the program.

The contractor(s) that demonstrate qualifications and achieve the highest numerical scores according to the rating criteria established by the Agency will be considered a qualified contractor and will be eligible for a contract to provide specialty services as required.

In some cases, specific professional certification or training may be required for eligibility to participate in the program as an installer. At a minimum, contractors will be required to agree to adhere to performance standards that meet the requirements of the state and federal funding agencies.

An informational meeting will be held on February 4, 2021.  All Contractors interested in submitting a proposal must contact our office at (217)718-6395 or jvrandenburg@trrcopo.org by 10AM on February 11, 2020, to register their company name and submit a Notification of Interest.  TRRC will disseminate proposal packets to be completed by the contractor electronically.  All proposals are due by 2PM on February 18, 2021, and should be submitted electronically to jvrandenburg@trrcopo.org.

TRRC is an equal opportunity employer, small, minority, and women owned businesses are encouraged to apply.

Here is the impact report for program year 2020. Please see this report for details on what this department is doing within our agency for our community.

Workforce Development PY20 Impact Report

There will be an emergency board meeting for the Governing Board of Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials July 23rd, 2020 at 6:00 PM. The meeting will be held to review a resolution to accept funding for a new grant program.

Frances L. Snyder, or “Frannie” as she was known to her co-workers, was well known to the families, the elderly, the young and the needy of Adams County who came to Two Rivers Regional Council for assistance.  She could always be counted on to give everyone her full attention. She would do everything she possibly could to solve the problems brought to her each day by our program participants. Frances was an asset to Two Rivers Regional Council during her more than 20 years of work with the agency.  This scholarship fund is intended to recognize her commitment and the love of the work she did and the help she provided….and most of all to recognize the good feeling everyone experienced from their interaction with her.

Source:                       Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials through the Community Services Block Grant Program with funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Amounts:                   $1,250 scholarship for each of the four counties of Adams, Brown, Pike and Schuyler for a total of $5,000 is available.

Priorities:                   Scholarships are for income-eligible residents accepted at an accredited Illinois educational institution and /or Technical school for the fall of 2020.

Use of Funds:             The Scholarships may be applied toward tuition, fees, books, supplies, lab costs, room and board and is payable to the institution.

Eligibility Criteria:   Must be a resident of Adams, Brown, Pike or Schuyler counties.  Gross income for all family members must be at or below 125% of the poverty level as established by HHS.  2020 income guidelines are as follows:

                                                Family Size                 3 Month Gross Income

1. $  3,988.00
2. $  5,388.00
3. $  6,788.00
4. $  8,188.00
5. $  9,588.00
6. $10,988.00

Applications:  Due to COVID 19 we are doing applications by phone

                                    Adams County                                  Brown County

                                    107 N 3^rd                                             206 SW Cross

                                    Quincy, IL  62301                               Mt. Sterling, IL  62353

• 217-773-3141/217-440-4862

Contact:  Emily Bond                                     Contact:  Melissa Markert

                                    Pike County                                       Schuyler County

                                    120 South Madison                             233 N Congress

                                    Pittsfield, IL  62363                            Rushville, IL  62681

                                    217-285-5424/217-440-4862              217-322-6916/217-440-4862

                                    Contact: Melissa Markert                   Contact:  Melissa Markert

Required Documentation:

• Proof of Social Security number for all household members
• Proof of Current address
• Gross income from all sources for all family members for past 3 months
• Official transcripts from most recent educational institution   attended, documentation of acceptance into a specific school or other acceptable proof of planned full-time enrollment
• Applicants will be asked to complete a questionnaire, which includes writing an essay.

Evaluation:    All applications must be complete by the deadline of September 1 2020.  Applications will be reviewed and ranked by members of the Community Action Advisory Board for their respective counties.

Payments:      The scholarship payments are made directly to the Illinois accredited institution designated by the award recipient.  If the student withdraws or is no longer attending the designated school, the funds will be returned to Two Rivers.

Questions and/or concerns may be directed to Becky Pruden, Community Services Director

217-221-6204

Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials (TRRC) is making a public notice that we recently had a storage trailer stolen from our Adams County office. This trailer contained personnel files of previous TRRC employees that left employment at the agency prior to 2017. This trailer also housed files that may have contained client files that could potentially contain personal information. These files were also prior to 2017.

All active files are securely kept in our office and staff maintain the highest level of professionalism and safety when handling any client or other stakeholder information. TRRC is working with local law enforcement to recover the contents of the storage trailer.

TRRC understands the severity of this unfortunate event. TRRC is currently working on means to make our property even more secure. If anyone has concerns of their personal data being stolen please visit identitytheft.gov for assistance.

If you would like any additional information regarding this matter please reach out to us at (217) 224-8171.

The Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials Governing Board is calling a Special Meeting on Tuesday, May 5th at 6:00 P.M. at 107 North 3rd, Quincy, IL to discuss a personnel issue. This will be the only agenda item.

Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials (TRRC) is adding to its staff as West-Central Illinois’ Community Action Agency is responding to assist those suffering during the national COVID-19 Pandemic.

TRRC Executive Director Bob Gough is announcing that Jeremy Oshner will become the agency’s Deputy Executive Director. Oshner has 14 years with TRRC and also serves as the agency’s Workforce Development Director. He specializes in program development, grant writing, staff management, and many other skills needed for Two Rivers Regional Council. Oshner received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management from Hannibal-LaGrange University.

“Jeremy’s institutional knowledge will be invaluable as we attempt to re-familiarize Two Rivers to the area and demonstrate what we contribute to the local economy,” Gough said. “We are going to be leading the region in putting people back to work and Jeremy is a key player for us to re-establish the connection between workers and employers as we ramp up.”

Chad Frederick is also joining TRRC as the agency’s Deputy Director of Economic Development. Frederick has been working for Western Illinois University in Macomb for the last 10 years, but before that, he was a grant writer for the Western Illinois Regional Council in Macomb. Frederick has a Masters in Communications from Western Illinois University.

Teaming with TRRC’s economic development veterans Charles Bell and Earl Bricker, Gough says Frederick will be leading a renewed effort to expand the agency’s presence.

“Chad brings a working knowledge of West-Central Illinois and will be a big asset as we improve our outreach to all of the counties in our Economic Development District,” Gough said. “Employers from the Illinois River to the Mississippi River are looking to us to help them navigate the details of the state and federal aid and loan programs that will be critical to re-starting the economy during the recovery period.”

Gough said TRRC was preparing a major investment in its agency before COVID-19, but the silver lining of the pandemic is to remind people what Two Rivers can provide to the region.

“We have received additional funding for most of our services because of the pandemic and we are planning to maximize that to help the increased number of people in need,” Gough said. “We’re seeing more need in our food pantries Mt. Sterling and Pittsfield and DOT Foods has stepped up in a big way for us. Whether it’s food, shelter or energy assistance through LIHEAP, Two Rivers is here for West-Central Illinois.”

Adams County Together Resource Team

We have all been inundated with resources from the local, state and federal level. As part of the Adams County Together Initiative, a Resource Team has been formed to help both individuals and businesses navigate the best course of action to take when considering various programs.

Beginning today, Monday, April 13, those looking for individual or business assistance can make in person, phone, or online Zoom meeting appointments. In person meeting locations include in the City of Quincy, as well as Adams, Brown and Pike Counties.

“We are all here to help our community through this difficult time,” states Marcel Wagner, president of the Great River Economic Development Foundation. “We are currently accepting appointments for assistance in understanding which program is best for individuals and organizations, and all in person appointments are held at a safe distance at each location.”

To schedule an individual assistance appointment, please call (217) 222-YMCA Ext 202.

To schedule a business appointment via Zoom or in Quincy, please call (217) 430-4313. For a business appointment in the county, please call (217) 224-8171.

A full schedule, list of locations, as well as contact phone numbers can be found online at www.AdamsCountyTogether.com on the home page when you click “Contact The Resource Team.”

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Questions or follow up appointments can be made by calling the Mayor’s office at 217-228-4545.

Contact Person: Becky Pruden, Community Services Director
Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials
107 N 3rd
Quincy, Ill 62301
217) 221-6204
b14.pruden@trrcopo.org

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) deadline has been extended to June 30, 2020.

Based on the updated “shelter in place” order issued by Governor Pritzker until April 30, 2020 all Two Rivers Council offices will be taking phone applications on our services until the order is lifted.

Two Rivers administers the program in Adams, Brown, Pike and Schuyler Counties

When you call for assistance please have the following information available along with at least 45 minutes of your time.
• Social Security Cards for all household members
• Proof of the past 30 day gross household income
• Current fuel and electric bills

Guidelines are based on the past 30 day gross household income and are as follows:

1- $1,561 6- $4,324
2- $2,114 7- $4,876
3- $2,666 8- $5,429
4- $3,219 9- $5,981
5- $3,771 10- $6,534

All households that have not received assistance since October 1st should call the number listed below.
• Adams County 224-8171 – M,T,W,Th,F
• Brown County 773-3141 – Friday
• Pike County 285-5424 – Thursday
• Schuyler County 322-6916 – Wednesday

Questions may be directed to Becky Pruden, Community Services Director at 217-221-6204

Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials will not be seeing clients face-to-face, but will continue to do its best to serve those who need assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Even though we are not a specific part of state government, we are under certain personnel regulations just like a component state agency,” said TRRC Executive Director Bob Gough. “When it comes to things like the current situation, we will follow the state’s decision-making regarding such things as allowing employees to work from home and other issues.”

“We extend our gratitude for the fine work being done in our community during this crisis. Service providers are who people turn to in these times and we still need to serve. However, we are asked to make difficult decisions balancing the best interests of our staff and the public.”
TRRC will continue to operate its food pantries that serve the areas in Pike and Brown Counties.

The food pantry in Pike County located at 120 S. Madison, Pittsfield, will expand hours of operation to Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The food pantry in Brown County located at 206 SW Cross, Mt. Sterling, will be open on the regularly scheduled day; Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Measures are being taken to ensure the safety of everyone so expect a few changes: Food will be provided, but there will be no selection process allowed. Those needing food will be handed a box with the basics.

The REACHOUT Center Thrift Store, located at 120 S. Madison, Pittsfield, is closed until further notice.

TRRC employees will remain available to take calls at the following numbers:
QUINCY: 217-224-8171
PITTSFIELD: 217-285-5424
MT. STERLING: 217-773-3141
RUSHVILLE: 217-322-6916