SPRINGFIELD - - Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $1 million in Illinois FIRST funding for projects in Central Illinois, including $250,000 to the West Central Educational Television Consortium. The Consortium is a not-for-profit organization that provides public television broadcasting for a 16-county region in Western and Central Illinois. The grant will be used for educational programming costs.

Other Illinois FIRST grants announced by Ryan:

• $105,000 to the Sherman Fire Protection District to purchase an aerial-equipped fire truck.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Raymond Poe, R-Springfield.

• $100,000 to the Illiopolis Fire Protection District to purchase a new pumper truck.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. Larry K. Bomke, R-Springfield.

• $100,000 to the Lincoln Rural Fire Protection District to purchase a new pumper truck.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. Robert A. Madigan, R-Lincoln.

• $70,000 to the Washburn Fire Protection District to purchase a fire rescue vehicle. The district will contribute $160,217.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Keith P. Sommer, R-Mackinaw.

• $50,000 to South Litchfield Township to purchase land for a new parking lot and to buy equipment for its administrative building.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Gary Hannig, D-Litchfield.

• $40,000 to the Village of Brighton to purchase an early warning system and an emergency generator for its municipal building.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Tom Ryder, R-Jerseyville.

• $40,000 to the Village of Secor to purchase and equip a new utility vehicle for general use.
  This project was initiated by Sommer.

• $40,000 to the Auburn Square Merchants Association to reconstruct a bandstand in the village square.
  This project was initiated by Bomke and State Rep. Gwenn Klingler, R-Springfield.

• $30,000 to the Mason County Board to remove a log jam in the Snicarte ditch, caused by heavy flooding in 1993.
  This project was initiated by R. Madigan.

• $25,000 to the Cass County Historical and Genealogical Society for storage, display and public research of county records and materials.
  This project was initiated by Poe.

• $25,000 to the Tri-County Antique Club to purchase land for a building that will be used to display antique farm machinery.
  This project was initiated by Ryder.

• $25,000 to the Village of Mechanicsburg to purchase playground equipment and make park improvements.
  This project was initiated by Bomke.

• $20,000 to the Auburn Cemetery Board to refurbish the caretaker's cottage and purchase a new tractor.
  This project was initiated by Bomke.

• $20,000 to Panola Township to purchase a truck that will be used for general maintenance of its roads. The township will contribute $41,000.
  This project was initiated by R. Madigan.

• $20,000 to Minonk Township to purchase oil and chip material used to resurface township roads.
  This project was initiated by R. Madigan.

• $20,000 to Metamora Township to purchase a truck that will be used for road maintenance.
  This project was initiated by R. Madigan.

• $20,000 to East Peoria Historical Society to replace the roof on the historic Doering House, which functions as a local museum.
  This project was initiated by R. Madigan.

• $20,000 to Clayton Township to help fund the construction of a bridge that will replace the current out-dated bridge. The township will contribute $45,000.
  This project was initiated by R. Madigan.

• $20,000 to the Tremont Township Road District to refurbish its dump truck.
  This project was initiated by Sommer.

• $20,000 to Wimmer Cemetery in Auburn to construct a storage shed and purchase lawncare equipment.
  This project was initiated by Bomke.