Ryan: $1.2 Million in Illinois FIRST Projects for DuPage and Kane Counties

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $1.23 million in Illinois FIRST funding for projects in DuPage and Kane counties, including $187,200 to the City of Batavia to help complete preliminary engineering work on the repair of the Donovan Bridge at Wilson Street over the Fox River, as well the construction of a new bridge at a different location.

The repair or the replacement of the Donovan Bridge is needed because vehicle traffic continues to increase throughout the city and the existing bridge will reach the end of its estimated useful life in four to seven years. The increased traffic also indicates the need for a second bridge over the Fox River in Batavia. The city is spending $1.5 million on the engineering study.

This Illinois FIRST project was initiated by State Rep. Timothy Schmitz, R-Batavia.

Other Illinois FIRST projects announced by Ryan:

• $200,000 to the City of Naperville to help with improvements on Diehl Road, including a new traffic signal at the main entrance of the new world headquarters of Tellabs Operations, Inc. The city is contributing $114,000 to the work.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. Chris Lauzen, R-Aurora.

• $119,625 to the City of Aurora for the purchase of a truck and equipment for a hazardous materials technical rescue squad, as well as to buy a site for a firefighter training facility. A $64,350 grant to the City of Batavia and a $22,275 grant to the Village of North Aurora will help with the training facility.
  These projects were initiated by Scmitz.

• $100,000 to the Kane County Sheriff's Department to purchase a computerized jail management system for the Kane County Jail.
  This project was initiated by Schmitz.

• $64,800 to the Village of North Aurora to help with the construction of a storage building for the municipal public works and water departments. The village is contributing $285,000 to the project.
  This project was initiated by Schmitz.

• $50,600 to the City of Geneva to purchase firefighting equipment that includes "the jaws of life" cutting tools, a hazardous materials trailer, a gas detector and training equipment.
  This project was initiated by Schmitz.

• $50,600 to the city of Geneva to purchase three new automobiles for the police department and equipment for the police station.
  This project was initiated by Schmitz.

• $50,000 to the St. Charles Park District to help build a picnic shelter and two tennis courts at a neighborhood park in the West Gateway area. The district will contribute $71,000 to the project.
  This project was initiated by Schmitz.

• $50,000 to the Fox Valley Park District to help with the development of an eight acre park next to jewel Middle School in North Aurora. The district will contribute $150,000 to the project and the Department of Natural Resources will contribute $200,000.
  This project was initiated by Schmitz.

• $25,000 to the Aurora Family YMCA to renovate 6,000 square feet of the building to accommodate 60 young people in a new preschool development program. The YMCA is contributing $65,000 to the project.
  This project was initiated by Lauzen.

• $20,000 to the Association for Individual Development of Aurora to help equip a new training center. The Association serves some 2,000 clients.
  This project was initiated by Schmitz.

• $20,000 to Suicide Prevention Services, Inc. to help equip the non-profit's offices. The organization serves some 1,000 individuals and organizations annually.
  This project was initiated by Schmitz.

• $20,000 to Aunt Martha's Youth Services to buy supplies and equipment or the Healthy Kids Clinic'School-Linked Health Center in Aurora, which provides health care to uninsured and underinsured public school children in Aurora.
  This project was initiated by Schmitz.

• $20,000 to the Family Counseling Service of Aurora to remodel and refurbish their offices. The service provides a wide array of counseling to more than 3,000 area families every year.
  This project was initiated by Schmitz.

• $20,000 to the Aurora Township Highway Department to build a sidewalk along South Farnsworth Avenue to improve safety for children walking to Allen School. The township is contributing $10,000.
  This project was initiated by Schmitz.

• $20,000 to the Tri City Family Services, Inc. to purchase new equipment and to refurbish their offices. The organization provides a wide array of counseling to area families.
  This project was initiate by Schmitz.

• $20,000 to Provena Saint Joseph Hospital to purchase equipment and safety education materials for the Kane County Safe Kids program.
  This project was initiated by Schmitz.

• $20,000 to the Community Counseling Center of Fox Valley to upgrade its telephone system. The center provides behavioral health care services to the public.
  This project was initiated by Schmitz.

• $20,000 to the YWCA of Aurora for equipment and services designed to expand the YWCA's existing after-school program by approximately 40 students.
  This project was initiated by Schmitz.

• $15,000 to Batavia Unit School District 101 to help the district buy computers so that each elementary classroom in the district is connected to the Internet.
  This project was initiated by Schmitz.

• $15,000 to St. Charles School District 303 to buy computer hardware and software.
  This project was initiated by Schmitz.

• $15,000 to Mutual Ground, a non-profit agency, to help widen and improve a driveway and parking lot. The agency provides services to the victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
  This project was initiated by Schmitz.

• $10,000 to the Naperville Education Foundation to purchase equipment and materials for the "Born to Read" program for new parents.
  This project was initiated by Lauzen.

• $8,800 to the City of St. Charles to buy "less lethal impact weapons" for the police department to help them deal with violent armed subjects.
  This project was initiated by Schmitz.

• $8,800 to the City of St. Charles to buy specialized rescue equipment for the fire department.
  This project was initiated by Schmitz.