Ryan: $140,000 in Illinois FIRST Projects for Lake County and the Northwest Suburbs

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $140,000 in Illinois FIRST funding for projects in Lake County and the Northwest Suburbs, including $50,000 to the International Center on Deafness and the Arts, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the enhancement of the total development of children who are deaf and hard of hearing through quality experiences in the arts. The center will purchase visual recognition equipment, two TDD telephone units, lighting, speakers, display cases and carpeting for its center in Northbrook. The organization is contributing $40,000.

This Illinois FIRST project was initiated by State Rep. Elizabeth Coulson, R-Glenview.

Other Illinois FIRST grants announced by Ryan:

• $50,000 to West Deerfield Township to renovate its township building.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. Terry Link, D-Vernon Hill.

• $40,000 to the Village of Hainesville for the planning and engineering of a new village hall.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Mark H. Beaubien, R-Barrington Hills.

Illinois FIRST funds are not part of the state budget's General Revenue Fund. Recently, lagging tax collections brought on by a slowdown in the national economy and the terrorist attacks of September 11 have forced the governor to order spending cuts in the General Revenue Fund that amount to less than 2 percent of total spending. Illinois FIRST monies are derived from separate accounts in the state budget -- the Road Fund and the Fund for Illinois Future -- as well as through the sale of state bonds.