Governor Announces Illinois FIRST Grants To Paxton, Rantoul and Thomasboro

PAXTON -- Governor George H. Ryan today released $1.1 million in Illinois FIRST grants to the City of Paxton, Rantoul Township High School and the Village of Thomasboro for infrastructure and school rehabilitation projects.

"Illinois FIRST has been very successful in providing local governments the necessary resources to improve the quality of life for its citizens," Ryan said. "We have been able to reach out to communities across the state and help them improve their quality of life."

The City of Paxton received two grants. The first is a $430,000 grant for the reconstruction of Technology Drive from Illinois Route 9 to Concrete Technologies. This reconstruction is necessary due to the increased truck and car traffic generated form this expanding industrial site. The other project for the City of Paxton is a $365,000 grant for improvements to the city's water system to provide adequate water supply and pressure for the southeast area of Paxton.

Rantoul Township High School received two Illinois State Board of Education Illinois FIRST project grants. First, $15,000 for heating controls in the form of architectural services and roof replacement. The other is $20,000 for classroom rehabilitation.

Governor Ryan also announced a $285,000 grant for the Village of Thomasboro sewer treatment. This grant will provide funding for constructing sanitary sewers for the entire Village of Thomasboro with a force main to the Rantoul Treatment Plant.