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Ryan Releases Illinois First Funds for a New Armory in Aurora
SPRINGFIELD - Governor George H. Ryan today released $2 million in Illinois FIRST funds to continue work on a new addition at East Aurora High School that will be used jointly by the school, its Junior ROTC program and the Illinois National Guard.
"This new facility is part of our on-going efforts to enhance and improve equipment and facilities needed in a public emergency," Ryan said. "This new armory will benefit the Guard, students at East Aurora and the community as a whole."
Aurora East School District 131 will construct and equip a National Guard Readiness Center adjacent to the high school that will replace crowded and inadequate space in the school that is now rented by the National Guard's 178th Infantry for office space, equipment storage and a marshalling area.
The new armory will contain a field house and fitness center, assembly area, classrooms, a library and learning center, supply and storage rooms and offices. The National Guard and the high school will both use the field house, classrooms and fitness center that will be part of the new facility. In particular, the school's Naval Junior ROTC program, with 600 participating students, will be housed in the new armory. The facility also will be available for community events.
Illinois FIRST funds for the construction of this project are generated through the sale of state bonds. By law, proceeds from the sale of bonds cannot be used for general state operations.
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