By: Diane Benjamin

Open The Books created a database of “child care” spending by State after the Minnesota fraud came to light: https://open.substack.com/pub/openthebooks/p/minnesota-daycare-scandal-the-power?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

Quote from that story:

We’ve created the most comprehensive database of government spending in history, from federal to state and local governments, so that every taxpayer can become a citizen journalist and help identify waste, fraud and abuse.

This is the entire database for Illinois as linked in the story:

The below is ONLY money going to two Bloomington addresses:

207 W Jefferson is the Illinois House building. The Suite number in the database is 301. That is the office of Excelerate Illinois – this note is on their website: https://www.excelerateillinois.com/find-your-local-ccrr/sda-9

ExceleRate® Illinois is administered through INCCRRA under the joint direction of the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Illinois State Board of Education.

Why was State money sent directly to ExceleRate if INCCRRA is the administrator? Keep reading, the address below, INCCRRA is also on the website. ExceleRate claims to serve DeWitt, Ford, Livingston, and McLean counties . The website states they make payments to providers and Home Child Care providers.

That amount is tiny compared to what INCCRRA received at 1226 Towanda Ave – Towanda Plaza:

This is the INCCRRA website: https://www.inccrra.org/about/what-is-inccrra

One year, almost $2 billion dollars.

Let’s pretend there are 260 work days in a year. To spend that much money, this office needs to spend $7,443,342 every day – 5 days a week and insure every dollar goes to legitimate sources. Does anyone believe that is happening after the fraud exposed in Minnesota? (and the previous story https://blnnews.com/2026/01/15/5-things-you-need-to-know-10/)

Note: This organization isn’t responsible for child care expenses in the entire state. State spending appears to be by region. Other cities listed with locations receiving funds are: Quincy, Dekalb, Springfield, and Joliet.

I asked INCCRRA if funds are distributed to individuals or organizations. If organizations, I asked for a list. No response to my email. They have a Data Request form on their website that is supposed to be faxed.

Didn’t fax machines disappear decades ago?

The INCCRRA website has State spending reports. This page claims they provide services across the State even though other cities receiving funds are listed : https://www.inccrra.org/about/what-is-inccrra

Why is the office on W. Jefferson getting money if INCCRRA is providing services across the State?

Want to know the TOTAL State spending on child care?

$3,891,347,071.24

According to AI, in 2022 Illinois had 700,000 under the age of 5. It claims another source shows 869,000 kids under the age of 5.

Using the 869,000 number, the State is spending almost $4500 per child under 5. Of course there is no fraud, just like Minneapolis.

Former State Rep Jeanne Ives posted on Facebook that $3 billion of what the State spends is from the Federal Government. Of course the Feds have a right to know where their money is going. All I see are unaccountable NGO’s.