GOVERNOR AND FIRST LADY ANNOUNCE NEW ILLINOIS SMALL BUSINESS DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE PROGRAM

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan and First Lady Lura Lynn Ryan today announced the establishment of the new Illinois Small Business Drug Free Work Place Program.

"We are reaching out to small businesses that may not have the resources or knowledge to put together a drug free work place program on their own," Governor Ryan said. "Prevention First Inc. has been a primary source for substance abuse prevention materials and resources in Illinois for almost 20 years. I am pleased that they will take a leadership role in this initiative."

The program is designed to assist Illinois' more than 653,000 small businesses and their employees with the tools necessary to establish a drug-free workplace. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs in partnership with Prevention First, Inc., the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, the Mid-West Truckers Association and the SIU-Carbondale Small Business Development Center.

"An important aspect of this initiative is training parents to be aware of the important role they play in their child's decision to not use alcohol, tobacco or other drugs. Parents need to be equipped with the information they need to discuss drug use with their children, communicate their expectations and recognize if there is a problem," Mrs. Ryan added. "In addition, company's need the tools to equip their employees with the information and skills to live healthy lifestyles."

Through this program, Illinois small businesses will learn the "do's and don'ts" of work place drug testing, the costs of substance abuse, supervisor training, Employee Assistance Programs and treatment options for employees in need. Forty-two half day workshops will be held throughout the state and run until the end of September 2000.

"It has been conservatively estimated that substance abuse problems in the workplace cost Illinois businesses 3 percent of their payroll, totaling nearly $4 billion a year. Because these costs are staggering, businesses cannot tolerate alcohol and other substance abuse in the workplace," noted DCCA Director Pam McDonough. "This program will positively impact the bottom line by giving businesses information that will determine the best and most cost effective way to help employees, while protecting the health and profitability of the small business".

A schedule of Drug-Free Workplace Seminars is attached. To register for a seminar call the contact listed at the location you wish to attend. For more information about the Illinois Small Business Drug-Free Work Place Program contact Prevention First, Inc. at 800/252-8951 (TDD: 217/793-7355) or visit the DCCA Web site at www. commerce.state.il.us.

Drug-Free Workplace Seminar Dates

March 23, 2000, (8:00 a.m. - Noon)
Ballroom City
207 S Villa Avenue, Suite 250
Villa Park IL 60181

April 28, 2000, (8:00 a.m. - Noon)
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
One IBM Plaza, Suite 2800
($10 members) Chicago, Illinois 60611-3605
($15 non-members) Laura Durkalski - 312-494-6700

May 18, 2000, (8:00 a.m. - Noon)
College of DuPage
425 22nd Street
($10 members) Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60137-6599
($15 non-members) Laura Durkalski - 312-494-6700 / David Gay - 630-942-2771

May 22, 2000, (8:00 a.m. - Noon)
Rock Valley College
Technology Center, Room 121
(No charge)
3301 N Mulford Road
Rockford, Illinois 61114-5699
Shirley DeBenedetto - 815-636-6353

June 13, 2000, (8:30 a.m. - Noon)
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center
($15 charge) 150 East Pleasant Hill Road
Carbondale, Illinois 62901-6890
Dennis Cody - 618-536-2424

June 6, 2000, (8:00 a.m. - Noon)
Illinois Valley Community College
Fireside Lounge
(No charge)
815 N Orlando Smith Avenue
Oglesby, Illinois 61348-9692
Boyd Palmer/Mary Beth Liss - 815-223-1740
Jamie Gahm - 815-224-0428

June 7, 2000, (8:00 a.m. - Noon)
McHenry County College
Room B-168
(No charge)
8900 US Highway 14
Crystal Lake, Illinois 60012-2761
Susan Whitfield/Sheri McGowan - 815-455-6098

June 13, 2000, (8:00 a.m. - Noon)
Joliet Junior College
1215 Houbolt Road
($10 members) Joliet, Illinois 60432-4077
($15 non-members) Laura Durkalski - 312-494-6700

June 14, 2000, (Noon - 4:00 p.m.)
Elgin Community College
Business Conference Center
(No charge) 1700 Spartan Drive
Elgin, Illinois 60123-7193
Javier Placencia - 847-214-7488

June 15, 2000, (8:00 a.m. - Noon)
Galesburg Chamber of Commerce
292 E Simmons Street
(No charge)
Galesburg, Illinois 61401-4709
Carol Cook-Stombaugh - 309-734-4664

June 26, 2000, (8:30 a.m. - Noon)
Shawnee Community College
River Room
($15 charge)
8364 Shawnee College Road
Ullin, Illinois 62992-2206
Dennis Cody - 618-453-2424

June 27, 2000, (8:30 a.m. - Noon)
Lincolnland Community College
Stephens Room
(No charge)
5250 Shepherd Road
Springfield, Illinois 62794
Freida Schreck - 217-789-1017

June 28, 2000, (8:30 a.m. - Noon)
Spoon River College
Macomb Campus, Room 108
(No charge)
208 South Johnson
Macomb, Illinois 31455
Donna Corey/ Dan Voorhis - 309-298-2211

June 29, 2000, (8:30 a.m. - Noon)
John Wood Community College
Room 1030
(No charge)
4708 Broadway
Quincy, Illinois 62301
Donna Corey - 309-298-2211 or Ed VanLeer - 217-229-5511

July 11, 2000, (8:30 a.m. - Noon)
University of Illinois Extension Office
Small Business Development Center
(No charge)
2525 Federal Drive, Suite 1105
Decatur, Illinois 62526
Bill Wilkinson - 217-875-8284

July 12, 2000, (12:30 - 4:00 p.m.)
Danville Public Library
319 North Vermilion Street
(No charge)
Danville, Illinois 61832
Ed Adrain - 217-442-7232

July 13, 2000, (Noon - 4:00 p.m.)
Kankakee Community College
T Building (Business & Technology)
(No charge)
River Road
Kankakee, Illinois 60901-7878
Susette Cole - 815-933-0376

July 18, 2000, (8:00 a.m. - Noon)
Evanston Business & Technology Center
Jon Nelson Conference Room
(No charge)
1840 Oak Avenue
Evanston, Illinois 60201-3670
Rick Holbrook - 847-866-1817

July 18, 2000, (8:30 a.m. - Noon)
Bradley University
Robert Michel Student Center
(No charge)
Peoria, Illinois 61604
Ken Klotz - 309-677-2852

July 19, 2000, (8:30 a.m. - Noon)
Parkland Community College
Small Business Development Center
(No charge)
206A West Anthony Drive, Room 107
Champaign, Illinois 61822
Bill Wilkinson - 217-875-8284 or Triss Rieches - 217-351-2235

July 20, 2000, (8:00 a.m. - Noon)
Triton College
2000 Fifth Avenue
($10 members)
($15 non-members)
River Grove, Illinois 60171-1995
Laura Durkalski - 312-494-6700 or Geoffrey Barnes - 708-456-0300 x 3246

July 27, 2000, (8:30 a.m. - Noon)
Olney Central College
Main Banquet Room
(No charge) 305 North West
Olney, Illinois 62450
Barney Brumfiel, Program Director - 618-395-3011

July 27, 2000, (1:30 - 5:00 p.m.)
Eastern Illinois University
Student Center (?)
(No charge)
Charleston, Illinois
Barney Brumfiel, Program Director - 618-395-3011

August 8, 2000, (8:00 a.m. - Noon)
Moraine Valley Community College
Center for Contemporary Technology, Room T-712
(No charge)
10900 S 88th Avenue
Palos Hills, Illinois 60465-0937
Lisa Savaiano/Carol Malina - 708-974-5414

August 10, 2000, (8:30 a.m. - Noon)
Rend Lake College
468 North Ken Gay Parkway
($15 charge)
Ina, Illinois 62846-9801
Dennis Cody - 618-536-2424

August 17, 2000, (8:00 a.m. - Noon)
Sauk Valley Community College
173 Illinois Route 2, Room 2K2
(No charge)
Dixon, Illinois 61021-9188
John Nelson - 815-288-5511 x 320/ Tom Gospodarczyk 815-288-5511 x368

August 22, 2000, (8:00 a.m. - Noon)
College of Lake County
Room C-003
(No charge)
Grayslake, Illinois 60030-1198
Alese Campbell/Barb Hensel - 847-543-2033

August 24, 2000, (8:00 a.m. - Noon)
TBA - Chicago area
Laura Durkalski - 312-494-6700
($10 members)
($15 non-members)

August 24, 2000, (8:30 a.m. - Noon)
(in conjunction with Peoria Chamber of Commerce)v Bradley University
(No charge)
Robert Michel Student Center
Peoria, Illinois 61604
Ken Klotz - 309-677-2852

August 31, 2000, (8:30 a.m. - Noon)
Southeastern Illinois College
Small Business Development Center
($15 charge)
303 South Commercial
Harrisburg, Illinois 62946-2125
Dennis Cody - 618-536-2424

September 13, 2000(8:30 a.m. - Noon)
Kaskaskia College
Harry Crisp Technology Center
($15 charge)
2005 East McCord Street
Centralia, Illinois 62801-6727
Dennis Cody - 618-536-2424

September 21, 2000, (8:00 a.m. - Noon)
Co-sponsored with the Asian American Alliance SBDC
Location TBA - Chicago Area
($10 members)
($15 non-members)
Laura Durkalski - 312-494-6700

September 21, 2000, (8:00 a.m. - Noon)
Holiday Inn/Matteson
Glacier Room
(No charge)
500 Holiday Plaza Drive
Matteson, Illinois 60443-2269
Hilary Gereg - 708-534-4928 or Denise Mikulski - 708-534-4928

September 26, 2000, (8:00 a.m. - Noon)
Mark of the Quad Cities
1201 River Drive
(No charge)
Moline, Illinois 61265-1303
Donna Scalf/Vicky Miller - 309-764-2194

October 19, 2000, (8:00 a.m. - Noon)
Co-sponsored with North Business & Industrial Council
Location TBA - Chicago area
($10 members)
($15 non-members)
Laura Durkalski - 312-494-6700

November 16, 2000, (8:00 a.m. - Noon)
Co-sponsored with Greater North Pulaski Development Corporation
Location TBA - Chicago Area
($10 members)
($15 non-members)
Laura Durkalski - 312-494-6700

December 14, 2000, (8:00 a.m. - Noon)
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
One IBM Plaza, Suite 2800
($10 members)
($15 non-members)
Chicago, Illinois 60611-3605
Laura Durkalski - 312-494-6700

(No charge)TBA - Edwardsville
(No charge)TBA - East St. Louis