$1.2 Million in Illinois FIRST Projects For DuPage County

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $1.266 million in Illinois FIRST funding for projects in DuPage County, including $500,000 to Elmhurst Community Unit School District to develop the plans for additions to York, Edison, Jefferson, Jackson, and Conrad Fischer schools and to upgrade the computer and science labs and art and technology areas at York High School. The district is contributing $77 million.

This Illinois FIRST project was initiated by House Republican Leader Lee Daniels, Elmhurst.

Other Illinois FIRST grants announced by Ryan:

• $250,000 to the City of Roselle to construct a bike and pedestrian bridge at Lake Street. The city is contributing $530,000.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. Doris C. Karpiel, R-Carol Stream.

• $100,000 to the Bloomingdale Fire Protection District to purchase a thermal imaging camera, communications equipment and educational tools.
  This project was initiated by Karpiel.

• $96,000 to the Hanover Park District to repair the bridges at the main entrance of its community center.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Thomas L. Johnson, R-West Chicago and Karpiel.

• $75,000 to the Elmhurst Art Museum to purchase equipment and make improvements to the museum's exterior.
  This project was initiated by Daniels.

• $50,000 to Aspire, a non-for-profit corporation that provides facilities and services for persons with developmental disabilities and Alzheimer's disease, to construct a new bathroom equipped with a Parker bath.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. Thomas J. Walsh, R-LaGrange Park.

• $50,000 to the Village of Downers Grove to purchase a new fire truck. The village is contributing $175,000.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. Peter Roskam, R-Wheaton.

• $50,000 to Milton Township to upgrade the heating and air conditioning at its town hall.
  This project was initiated by Roskam.

• $45,000 to the Wood Dale Fire Protection District to purchase a new ambulance.
  This project was initiated by Daniels.

• $30,000 to the Lisle Woodridge Fire Protection District to purchase 50 self-contained breathing units. The district is contributing $95,000.
  This project was initiated by Roskam.

• $10,000 to the Darien Youth Club to improve the drainage in and around two baseball fields and a storage shed/concession stand.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Patricia "Patti" Bellock, R-Hinsdale.

• $10,000 to the Westmont Fire Department to provide SWAT training and educational materials for the police MEDIC staff. The district is contributing $27,600.
  This project was initiated by Bellock.