Ryan: $239,500 in Illinois FIRST Projects for Kankakee/ Illinois River Valleys

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $239,500 in Illinois FIRST funding for projects in the Kankakee and Illinois river valleys, including $75,000 to the Rockdale Fire Protection District to purchase the Rockdale Municipal Building, its current home.

This Illinois FIRST project was initiated by State Rep. Jack D. McGuire, D-Joliet.

Other Illinois FIRST grants announced by Ryan:

• $30,000 to Kankakee County Fair & Exposition, Inc., to renovate restroom facilities.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Mary K. O'Brien, D-Coal City.

• $27,000 to United Cerebral Palsy of Will County, Inc., to pay off a mortgage on one of its residential facilities, to support a new office in Kankakee County and to install automatic doors and cameras at two of the entrances to its Reed Street headquarters in Joliet.
  This project was initiated by O'Brien.

• $25,000 to the Canal Corridor Association to support the creation of a "driving tour" along the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor. The organization is contributing $17,024.
  This project was initiated by McGuire.

• $25,000 to Wesley Township Road District to purchase gravel for the completion of Goodwin Road.
  This project was initiated by O'Brien.

• $20,000 to Kankakee County Fair & Exposition, Inc., to renovate restroom facilities.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, D-Elwood.

• $20,000 to Kankakee County Fair & Exposition, Inc., to renovate restroom facilities.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Philip Novak, D-Bradley.

• $12,500 to the Iroquois County Agricultural and 4-H Club Fair to renovate a building on the fairgrounds.
  This project was initiated by Novak.

• $5,000 to the Kankakee County Coalition Against Domestic Violence to purchase bunk beds, twin mattresses, a kitchen table and chairs and kitchen supplies.
  This project was initiated by Walsh.