Recycling Grants To Help Local Businesses Increase Efficiency and Competitiveness
CHICAGO – In his continuing efforts to promote environmentally-friendly ways of growing the Central Illinois economy, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced today nearly $305,000 in Opportunity Returns grants that will fund a number of businesses and organizations who are expanding recycling throughout the region. These recycling grants are administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and come as a part of Opportunity Returns, Gov. Blagojevich's pro-active, regional economic development strategy designed to create jobs and spur growth in Central Illinois.
“Growing our economy in a way that helps our environment can be accomplished by investing in companies and communities that are expanding the recycling industry in Central Illinois. By supporting these kinds of innovative programs that are recycling everything from cans to computers, we are lessening the demand on our landfills and creating more jobs for our working families,” Gov. Blagojevich said.
F & W Resources Inc. located in Springfield has been awarded a $50,000 grant to develop a 24-hour-a-day accessible drop-off recycling site in Springfield. This project will double the number of recycling drop-off sites in Springfield and improve the geographic diversity of recycling opportunities for city residents, especially those living in multi-family dwellings who are excluded from participating in the city’s curbside recycling program. The drop-off center can also be used by area businesses and individuals who live in the vicinity of Springfield. This project is expected to divert an additional 325 tons of recyclable commodities annually. For additional information please contact: Faye Weekly - 217-525-1206
Affordable Shred of Riverton has been selected to receive a $50,000 grant to expand its document shredding/recycling business. This project will allow Affordable Shred to offer its services to customers within a 45-mile radius of Springfield. It is expected that this project will divert a total of 348 tons of recyclable commodities a year. For additional information please contact: Rick Weekly - 217-629-7076
The Lower Sangamon River Resource Conservation and Development Council, in cooperation with the City of Virginia, has received a $7,659 grant to develop a drop-off recycling site in Virginia. While accessible to city residents, individuals who live in areas surrounding Virginia will also have access to the drop-off center. This project is expected to divert 490 tons of recyclables from being landfilled. For additional information please contact: Randy McClure - 217-452-7786
The following grants come from a newly established Electronics Recycling Program. The grant program focuses on the development and expansion of permanent collection and processing facilities that handle end-of-life computers and other electronics.
Butler Distribution, located in Springfield, has been awarded a $75,000 grant to expand and relocate its processing and recycling operations to set up a permanent collection site that will serve residents and businesses located in central and southern Illinois counties. For additional information please contact: Stanley Butler - 217-691-8240 or 217-793-2298
Computer Banc is a mainly volunteer-supported, not-for-profit organization located in Springfield that works to provide computers to children who have a diagnosed learning challenge and come from homes with limited income. The organization has been selected to receive a $42,187 grant to establish a permanent site where donated computers and other associated electronic equipment can be collected, refurbished or otherwise recycled. For additional information please contact: Anne Godman - 217-528-9506
BLH Computers, Inc., located in Springfield, has been awarded a $73,680 grant to expand and enhance their electronic equipment collection and processing capabilities. In addition to upgrading their current structure to facilitate increased collection, de-manufacturing and refurbishing activities, BLH Computers Inc. will also offer a pick-up service for customers generating significant volumes of electronic equipment for recycling. For additional information please contact: Brian Dickerson - 217-585-1580
We Care Recycling, a not-for-profit organization located in Carlinville, has received a $6,295 grant to establish and operate a computer and electronics collection site at their main recycling facility in Carlinville. The objective of the program is to provide individuals and small businesses of Macoupin County with an environmentally sound way to dispose of old, obsolete and end-of-life electronics. For additional information please contact: Richard Lounsbury - 217-854-8888
“We should always take advantage of opportunities to grow our economy in ways that protect our environment. Gov. Blagojevich and I know these investments will pay important dividends for years to come,” State Senator Deanna Demuzio (D-Carlinville) said.
“This is a great example of how Gov. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns strategy is moving our economy forward. These recycling grants are going to help protect our environment, while helping local businesses grow,” State Senator John Sullivan (D-Rushville) said.
“Gov. Blagojevich and I are committed to supporting businesses and organizations that are protecting our environment while creating jobs. The more we recycle, the less strain we put on our local landfills. Everybody wins by promoting more recycling,” State Rep. Gary Hannig (D-Gillespie) said.
“Gov. Blagojevich understands that strategically investing in recycling is both an environmentally and economically sound decision. This is helping to turn what could have become our trash into a reusable commodity that is spurring private investment and putting more and more people to work. These types of progressive partnerships are what Opportunity Returns is all about,” 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.