Four months ago, tornadoes whipped through parts of central and southern Illinois, including Massac, Washington and Wayne counties.
As the towns rebuild, some lawmakers want to give businesses a break when fixing up their properties.
Rebuilding after a natural disaster can be expensive; insurance money only covers so much. A proposal making its way through the General Assembly could help ease that burden on businesses, by providing a property tax break.
Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) says this would help stabilize local economies.
"They provide jobs, they provide tax base, they provide vital services. So, this is a bill to help be proactive in saying, we want you as a small business to continue to operate and serve the communities that you're in."
Though the storm damage in Koehler's Peoria district was mainly limited to residential areas, he says protecting business interests now can prevent blight later.
