By Gary Barlow

Staff writer

Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias met with GLBT community leaders Jan. 23 at the James R. Thompson Center downtown, convening the inaugural meeting of his GLBT Affairs Council.

Giannoulias said he created the council with two goals in mind. The first, he said, is “educating people on what the state treasurer’s office does—unfortunately I don’t think enough people know what we do.”

The second goal, Giannoulias said, is to make sure his office responds to community needs.

“We want to hear from you,” he said. “We want to find ways we can help the community.”

Giannoulias said he wants to learn how he can do a better job of making GLBTs aware of such services as the Bright Start college savings program. The program has been substantially revamped under Giannoulias, with lower fees and more highly rated investments. It was recently ranked as one of the top college savings programs in the country.

“We’ve really made it very flexible,” Giannoulias said. “We try to make it as easy as possible.”

Giannoulias also wants GLBTs to be aware of his new Green Rewards program, which gives $1,000 rebates to consumers who purchase environmentally responsible hybrid or fuel-efficient vehicles.

The treasurer’s office also runs a host of other programs, including low-interest financing initiatives such as the one that aided the construction of the Center on Halsted.

And Giannoulias’ office makes officials available for workshops and educational presentations on banking and credit, identity theft, business development and investment and asset protection.

During a question-and-answer session at the meeting, Giannoulias said his office was ready and willing to work closely with the GLBT community in a wide range of ways.

“We’re there for you,” he said.