SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $1.511 million in Illinois FIRST funding for projects in Northern Illinois, including $495,000 to Northern Illinois University in Dekalb to help establish the Zeke Giorgi Legal Clinic.

The clinic will provide practical experience, under close supervision, to third-year law students qualified for the limited practice of law under Supreme Court Rule 711. These services include high-quality, free legal representation in selected public interest cases to those persons who are unable to afford payment.

Other Illinois FIRST grants announced by Ryan:

• $750,000 to the City of DeKalb to reconstruct Regal Drive.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. J. Bradley Burzynski, R-Sycamore.

• $100,000 to the Boone County Council on Aging to construct a new facility. The council is contributing $900,000.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford.

• $30,000 to the Salvation Army to tear down the former Boys & Girls Club on Walnut Street in Rockford.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Doug Scott, D-Rockford.

• $30,000 to Boone Township to purchase a dump truck.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Ronald A. Wait, R-Belvidere.

• $25,000 to the Village of Malta to video and inspect the sanitary sewer system. The village is contributing $11,000.
  This project was initiated by Burzynski.

• $20,000 to the Philip Behr Jewish Community Center, Rockford to establish and equip a computer lab.
  This project was initiated by Syverson.

• $20,000 to the Village of Kingston to resurface Main and West Street. The village is contributing $125,763.
  This project was initiated by Wait.

• $14,000 to the Paw Paw /Compton Fire Protection District to purchase a new thermal imaging camera and a "Rescue Randy" training dummy.
  This project was initiated by Burzynski.

• $12,000 to the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford to install a handicapped accessible door in the library, remodel a lab, and add assistive listening capabilities to the auditorium.
  This project was initiated by Scott.