Illinois FIRST Funds Improve Roads for New Mascoutah Business

MASCOUTAH -- Governor George H. Ryan today announced the City of Mascoutah was awarded $132,200 in Illinois FIRST funds for road access improvements to retain jobs at J & F Enterprises.

"The funding for the road improvements made possible by Illinois FIRST, is crucial to the company's plans to keep its warehouse and jobs in Illinois," Ryan said. "One of my priorities is for the state to be a good partner with local governments and the private sector by providing a transportation system that can serve the needs of communities to retain businesses."

J & F Enterprises is constructing a new 50,000 square-foot warehouse and distribution facility to replace leased space in Belleville. The new facility will keep the firm in Illinois, consolidating its trucking business with the warehousing operations in one location.

The improvement involves construction of a 700-foot access road from Illinois 4 to the J & F Enterprises site at the industrial park in north Mascoutah.

The Illinois FIRST funds include $111,200 from the Economic Development Program targeted to transportation improvements that help communities retain or attract businesses and associated jobs, and $23,000 from the Truck Access Route Program that provides state funds to upgrade local roads so they can accommodate 80,000-pound trucks.

The Illinois Department of Transportation administers both programs.