A western Illinois nonprofit is expanding their office locations into Knox County by adding an office in downtown Galesburg. Western Illinois Regional Council (WIRC), based in Macomb, has managed social service programs and community development projects for years in multiple western Illinois counties, including Knox. WIRC officials say the Galesburg office will be located on the first floor of the Bondi Building at 313 East Main Street, and it is expected to open to the public sometime later this summer.
WIRC Executive Director Roger Pavey says the Agency’s mission is about helping people and communities, and they hope to reach more Knox County residents who need their services.
“WIRC helps people find jobs, assists with paying for vocational training, helps with utilities, and more,” said Pavey. “The Agency also helps cities with applying for and managing housing development and public infrastructure grants. WIRC and the City of Galesburg already partner on several housing rehabilitation grants that are helping lower-income homeowners with making home improvements.”
“I welcome the WIRC to the Bondi Building Family of great tenants and look forward to being a part of the services they will provide,” said Robert Bondi, President of the Bondi Building Corporation.
Some of the other social service programs WIRC offers to lower-income households include weatherproofing homes to lower energy bills; home rehabilitation projects such as installing wheelchair ramps or fixing electrical code violations; removing lead-based paint from homes; and offering college scholarships. To ask about any of these programs, call WIRC at 309-837-2997 or visit their website at wirpc.org.
At confidential locations, WIRC also offers crisis counseling appointments for survivors of sexual assault through their Victim Services department. Officials say those appointments are held at confidential locations to protect the safety and privacy of their clients. Victim Services offers free counseling, medical advocacy, and legal advocacy to survivors of all ages who have experienced sexual assault. To speak with a counselor, call Victim Services’ 24/7 crisis hotline at 309-837-5555 or learn more at wirpc.org/victim-services/.
Pavey continued that this is the right time to for WIRC to open a branch office in Galesburg because they are set to become the provider of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in Knox County, which helps eligible households with paying their winter home energy bills. WIRC already manages the program in Hancock, Henderson, McDonough and Warren counties, and the Agency processed over 3,000 applications, a record-breaking number, last program season in those areas. With Knox County being added this coming fall, WIRC determined that a branch office is needed to assist residents in this much larger population county.
“The Knox County Health Department has provided LIHEAP for the past several years and has done an excellent job for Knox County residents,” said Pavey. “The Health Department has asked to step away from the LIHEAP program, and WIRC is honored to be chosen as the service provider starting with the new program year this coming October.”
“WIRC provides so many wonderful benefits to the communities they serve,” stated Michele Gabriel, Public Health Administrator for the Knox County Health Department. “The Health Department looks forward to continuing to partner with the Organization and is excited to see WIRC become a local presence in the Knox County community and expand their services to provide LIHEAP to Knox County residents.”
WIRC Community Services & Public Relations Director Jamie Roth added that this is a celebratory time for WIRC.
“This year is WIRC’s 50th anniversary of helping people and communities,” said Roth. “The timing of adding a new branch office this year in Galesburg is fitting and exciting for our team.”
An opening date for the new WIRC branch office has not yet been set. WIRC officials will make an announcement once the details have been finalized.
WIRC is a nonprofit that helps people and communities in multiple western Illinois counties. For more information about their services, find them on social media, visit their website at wirpc.org, or call 309-837-2997. The Agency is an equal opportunity provider and employer.