Illinois offers $100 million in state-backed loans to 8,000 furloughed federal workers

Illinois officials are offering state-backed loans to federal employees who haven't been paid because of the partial federal government shutdown, and state leaders are looking at ways to help others who could be affected if the shutdown drags on.

The state will make $100 million in low-interest loans available to estimated 8,000 federal employees in Illinois impacted by the partial federal government shutdown.

It’s been 34 days since the partial federal shutdown started. Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs said the loan program he and Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Wednesday at the statehouse is an effort pay federal workers during the budget impasse.

“These dollars will be spent securing a roof over a family's head, dollars spent at a local grocer, or a corner gas station,” Frerichs said.

Read more: https://www.ilnews.org/news/economy/illinois-offers-million-in-state-backed-loans-to-furloughed-federal/article_1df4fc0e-1f51-11e9-a567-ef4651a96b7e.html