Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton touched down at Lincoln Land Community College on Wednesday, touting the administration's budget proposal for higher education investments.

Notably, the budget calls for increased funding into the Monetary Award Program grant program to make community college more affordable. Paired with federal Pell grants, Pritzker said the $100 million investment would allow students with lower incomes to cover college debt-free.

Since his administration began in 2019, MAP funding has increased by 75% or up-to $701 million. Every student who applied for a MAP grant this year has received one, the governor said.

“When I first took office, going to college in Illinois seemed less affordable than ever before. Prior administrations had cut funding for higher education so badly that out-of-state tuition looked better to Illinois families,” Pritzker said. “And that’s a fundamental failure of state government and it’s a trend we’ve been reversing for the last four years.”

Joining the governor at LLCC were local legislators state Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, and state Rep. Mike Coffey, R-Springfield. Both said party politics need to be set aside when it comes to education.

According to the governor's office, the state has the third-largest community college system in the nation. This year's budget, now pending approval from the Illinois General Assembly, adds nearly $20 million in additional funding for day-to-day operations.“Community colleges can be a much-needed step for students before attending a four-year university,” said Turner in a statement. “Lincoln Land Community College is known for setting students up to succeed. Increasing investments in Illinois’ community colleges is vital for students to engage in more workforce training and development programs, allowing them to get a good paying job in the future.”