Ryan: $553,200 in Illinois FIRST Projects for Peoria and Western Illinois

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $553,200 in Illinois FIRST funding for projects in the Peoria area and Western Illinois, including $250,000 to Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg for the purchase of new computers for school's Education Technology Center.

The center provides technical training to about 8,500 people in a year, as well as schools and businesses. The grant will enable the center to buy 66 personal computers, software and associated equipment that will be able to run up-to-date software.

This Illinois FIRST Project was initiated by State Sen. Carl Hawkinson, R-Galesburg.

Other Illinois FIRST grants announced by Ryan:

• $100,000 to the Dunlop Consolidated Unit School District 323 to help purchase outdoor lighting for the high school's athletic fields and tennis courts, which also serve as community recreation areas.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. David Leitch, R-Peoria.

• $80,000 to the Children's Home Association of Illinois to remodel the Association's Knoxville facility, which was last updated in the 1950s. The work will include bedrooms, the kitchen, washrooms, an activity area, laundry and new air conditioning. The Association provides special programs for troubled children and families.
  This project was initiated by Leitch.

• $50,000 to the Village of Tiskilwa to help purchase a snow plow for village streets. The village is contributing $10,000.
  This project was initiated by Leitch.

• $32,500 to the Village of Annawan to purchase two new weather warning sirens that will replace a system installed in 1956.
  This project was initiated by Hawkinson.

• $30,000 to the Village of Wyanet to purchase land for a new village water tower. The current tower was built in 1916. The village will contribute $137,000 toward the construction of the tank.
  This project was initiated by Leitch.

• $10,700 to the Peoria County Sheriff's Office to purchase 25 sets of "stop sticks," a device that allows officers to deflate the tires of a moving vehicle in a safer manner.
  This project was initiated by Hawkinson.