SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $266,350 in Illinois FIRST funding for projects in the Rockford area, including $50,000 to the City of Belvidere to reconstruct McInnes Court.

The reconstruction of McInnes Court will allow direct rear delivery for the downtown businesses fronting State Street. This project will eliminate delivery trucks from stopping on State Street, which is a hazard for both the motoring public and pedestrians. The city is contributing $59,500.

This Illinois FIRST project was initiated by State Rep. Ronald A. Wait, R-Belvidere.

Other Illinois FIRST grants announced by Ryan:

• $50,000 to Winnebago County to widen the west leg of Guilford Road at the intersection of Bell School Road in Rockford.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford.

• $50,000 to the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department to purchase and install video equipment in 13 patrol cars.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Dave Winters, R-Shirland.

• $35,000 to the Winnebago/Rockford Clean & Beautiful Organization to offset the costs incurred with the education of recycling and waste reduction.
  This project was initiated by Winters.

• $30,000 to the Rockford Community Foundation to purchase new band uniforms for 325 students at Guildford High School. The Foundation is contributing $23,000.
  This project was initiated by Wait.

• $20,000 to Downtown, Inc to construct a walkway for the Rockford 2000 Milennium Fountain.
  This project was initiated by Syverson.

• $15,000 to the Rockford Area Chamber of Commerce to purchase and distribute six automated external defibrillators to public areas in the Rockford community.
  This project was initiated by Syverson.

• $10,000 to Shelter Care Ministries, Rockford for assistance with the construction of phase II and III of its Jubilee Drop-In Center. The organization is contributing $65,768.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Doug Scott, D-Rockford.

• $5,000 to Malta Historical & Genealogical Society to purchase two display cases, a photo display unit and a copy machine/computer scanning system.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. J. Brad Burzynski, R-Sycamore.

• $1,350 to the Barbara Olson Center of Hope to purchase an automatic external defibrillator.
  This project was initiated by Scott.