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Governor Announces Grant to City of Rock Falls to Help National Manufacturing Company Expand
SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan today announced that a $450,000 grant was awarded to the City of Rock Falls to assist in the extension of their wastewater treatment system, connecting National Manufacturing Company's private wastewater system to the municipal system.
The extension will enable National, the third largest employer in the area, to increase production in their Rock Falls' plant, resulting in 46 new jobs in addition to the 470 already in place. This will also lead to the creation of 17 additional new jobs at National's Sterling plant, which feeds products to the Rock Fall's facility.
"Producing quality hardware for nearly a century has given National a sense of commitment to its industry and surrounding community," Ryan said. "We want to help the company continue its practices by keeping the Rock Falls and Sterling plants on track. Both areas will benefit from new jobs, and National will be able to keep doing what it does best--business."
The grant was awarded by the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA) from their Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP).
The City of Rock Falls will use the grant to extend 7,000 lineal feet of sanitary sewer force main to National Manufacturing, who currently uses a private wastewater treatment system, but has reached the capacity of discharge allowed under its permit.
"As it was, National's private wastewater system would not have allowed them to add new jobs that the plant needed," said DCCA Director, Pam McDonough. "With CDAP, the company was able to overcome an obstacle so that they could continue growing as a business, and as part of the community."
In conjunction with the CDAP grant awarded by the state, the city will contribute funds toward the sewer construction costs, as well as National Manufacturing Company investing a significant amount for construction of a private well and a reverse osmosis system to treat the water.
"With the assistance from the State of Illinois and the City of Rock Falls, our present operations now will be able to expand while leaving room for accommodating future growth at this facility," said Michael King, Director of Plant Support for National Manufacturing. "We are quite grateful for the award of these CDAP funds."
"The City of Rock Falls is very pleased to receive this state grant that will aid in the construction of wastewater services to an important employer in the Twin Cities," said Mayor Mulvaney. "We are confident that the 63 new jobs will reinforce the Rock Falls-Sterling communities as progressive industrial and commercial communities."
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