Ryan: $1.3 Million in Illinois FIRST Projects for Northwest Illinois

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $1.359 million in Illinois FIRST funding for projects in Northwest Illinois, including $1,000,000 to the Rock Island Mental Health Center to relocate and purchase a building.

The city donated property at 2215 3rd Avenue and the center is contributing $1.6 million.

Other Illinois FIRST grants announced by Ryan:

• $260,000 to Lutheran Social Services of Illinois to upgrade the information system at the Nachusa Lutheran Home facility and its Sterling office and to add additional bedroom, bathroom and office space at the Nachusa facility.
  This Illinois FIRST project was initiated by State Rep. Jerry Mitchell, R-Sterling.

• $55,000 to the Friends of the Albany Mounds Foundation to purchase 14 acres of land containing archaeological sites adjacent to Albany Mounds.
  This project was initiated by State Sen.Denny Jacobs, D-East Moline.

• $44,000 to the Galena/Jo Daviess County Historical Society to construct an educational exhibit out of an old mine shaft, that sits in the back of the museum's main exhibit hall.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Ronald Lawfer, R-Stockton.