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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT
Release Date
 August 23, 2005		 Contact Information
 Cheryle Jackson        312/814.3158 (office) 
Abby Ottenhoff       312/814.3158 (office) 
Rebecca Rausch        217/782.7355 (office) 
Gerardo Cardenas      312/814.3158 (office) 
Andrew Ross              312/814.8193 (DCEO)
News Title
 GOV. BLAGOJEVICH ANNOUNCES NEARLY $4 MILLION IN OPPORTUNITY RETURNS FUNDING FOR IMPORTANT NORTH CENTRAL REGION INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS
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 News Description
 CHICAGO – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced nearly $4 million in funding for new sanitation and water drainage improvement projects in the North Central region.  These key initiatives will improve the health and quality of life of working families in North Central Illinois, as well as provide the necessary infrastructure for economic growth.  This aggressive effort to improve the quality of infrastructure and public facilities is a major theme of the Governor’s Opportunity Returns initiative for the North Central region, his comprehensive, pro-active strategy for restoring economic opportunity to the area.

“Improving this region’s infrastructure is not only about fostering business growth and attraction, it’s about building safer, stronger and healthier communities where families can live, work and raise their children from one generation to the next.  This is an investment in the region’s economic vitality as well as its quality of life,” Gov. Blagojevich said.  

The funds for this initiative are part of the Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP), a federally-funded grant program that assists Illinois communities by providing grants to local governments to help them in financing economic development, public facilities and housing rehabilitation projects. The program is targeted to assist low-to-moderate income people by creating job opportunities and improving the quality of their living environment. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) administers the program.

“Making investments like these in the region’s infrastructure is really about building stronger, more vibrant communities. Gov. Blagojevich understands there are no short cuts when it comes to growing our local economy and creating good, new jobs,” State Senator George Shadid (D-Pekin) said.

“Water and sanitation improvements might not be the most exciting projects, but they are vital to the growth and expansion of our local economy.  By making investments at the community level, Gov. Blagojevich is employing the most effective approach to economic development,” State Senator John Sullivan (D-Rushville) said.

“The infrastructure upgrades funded by these grants send a message to the business community that we are committed to ensuring they have all the tools in place to compete and thrive.  Gov. Blagojevich is making a great investment in the economic vitality of the region,” State Rep. Michael Smith (D-Canton) said.

These CDAP initiatives address a critical need for the region.  Communities with established infrastructure are under constant pressure to upgrade and rehabilitate their systems to keep up with changing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations, changing populations and changing needs.  As more rural water wells are becoming undrinkable, rural water providers assume even greater importance.  

Adequate sewer and water service is also vital to community and economic development. Without basic infrastructure, communities cannot compete for company relocation and expansion, but with a healthy infrastructure in place, communities can create jobs and prosper.  

The North Central region’s public facilities improvements are as follows:

LOCATION                TYPE        DESCRIPTION                                                     COST

Village of Bartonville        Public Facilities             Construct water main                           $277,542
Peoria

Village of Bellflower        Public Facilities             Replace dilapidated, undersized watermain        $257,785
McLean

Village of Bryant                Design Engineering       Design water system improvements        $69,413
Fulton

Cropsey Township        Public Facilities              Construct water treatment facility        $395,430
McLean                                                          Cropsey Mutual Water Assoc.                

Village of Fairview        Public Facilities               Construct improvements to existing         $214,627
Fulton                                                           sanitary sewer system                

Village of Glasford        Public Facilities               Construct new well & other improvements         $372,700
Peoria                                                           to ground storage tank                

Village of Kilbourne         Public Facilities               Construct sewer system                $395,430
Mason

Village of Long Point        Public Facilities                Extend water lines                                                         $395,430
Livingston                                                            Tri-Community Rural Water District

Village of Secor                Public Facilities                Replace water mains & construct new ones                            $239,160                                       Woodford

Village of Sparland        Public Facilities               Elevate well and well house        $232,000
Marshall                

City of Toulon                Public Facilities                Construction of new wastewater treatment         $395,430
Stark                                                            facility and lagoon system

Village of Washburn        Public Facilities                 Construction of water tower with water main        $395,430
Woodford                
                       
Village of Weldon        Public Facilities                 Construction of new well and extension of          $205,925
DeWitt                                                             water main                
       
                                                                                   Total: $3,846,302


“Gov. Blagojevich understands that the best way to continue creating and retaining good jobs in North Central Illinois is to foster a highly competitive, attractive business climate.  Ensuring that communities across the region have safe and reliable water and sanitation infrastructure is a vital part of that effort, and these investments will lay the foundation for a more vibrant local economy today and tomorrow,” DCEO Director Jack Lavin said.

Gov. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois’ history.  Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn’t work, the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions – each with a regional team that is empowered and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges.  Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses.  It is about upgrading the skills of the local workforce, increasing the access to capital, opening new markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs.  Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach its economic potential.                  
 
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