Ryan: $1.7 Million in Illinois FIRST Projects for Southeast Illinois

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $1.69 million in Illinois FIRST funding for projects in Southeastern Illinois, including $225,000 to help purchase a new handicapped accessible building for the Crawford County Senior Center.

The new building, located at 501 west Main Street in Oblong, will enable the non-profit Embarras River Basin Agency, Inc., to continue to provide free meals for seniors and handicapped individuals in Crawford County. The program's current location is not accessible to persons with disabilities. The new facility will benefit an estimated 550 people in Crawford county.

This Illinois FIRST project was initiated by State Rep. Charles Hartke, D-Teutopolis.

Other Illinois FIRST grants announced by Ryan include:

• $200,000 to the City of Mount Vernon for two water and sewer improvement projects that will give 122 area residents access to the public water supply.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. John O. Jones, R-Mount Vernon.

• $175,000 to the City of Carmi to excavate a new water well for the use of 9,000 people in the city, two villages and a rural water system that taps the city's supply. One of Carmi's existing four wells is going dry.
  This project was initiated by Jones.

• $125,000 to the Jefferson County Fire District to help purchase a new fire truck for the Ina Fire Station. The District will contribute $35,000 to the new truck, which will replace a 35-year-old vehicle.
  This project was initiated by Jones.

• $110,000 to the City of McLeansboro to purchase a new fire truck that will serve 8,500 people in Hamilton County. The new vehicle replaces a 27-year-old truck.
  This project was initiated by Jones.

• $100,000 to the Village of West Salem to help build a 100,000 gallon water storage tank. The remaining cost of the project will be funded by a separate $133,500 public works grant from the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs.
  This project was initiated by Jones.

• $100,000 to the Norris City Omaha Enfield School to connect the school to existing water and sewer lines.
  This project was initiated by Jones.

• $100,000 to the City of Fairfield to help replace a large portion of the city's 50-year-old sewer system on Fairfield's south side that is insufficient to deal with the area's needs. Along with this grant, the project has received a previous $100,000 Illinois FIRST grant, $350,000 from DCCA's CDAP program and $2 million in federal funds allocated by the Illinois EPA.
  This project was initiated by Jones.

• $80,000 to the Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission to study the feasibility of a regional water supply system that would serve 18 counties.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. William O'Daniel, D-Mount Vernon.

• $80,000 to the Effingham County Fair Association to help refurbish and repair structures and roads at the Effingham County Fairgrounds.This project will also receive $100,000 in additional Illinois FIRST funding from State Sen. Duane Noland, R-Blue Mound and State Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth.
  This project was initiated by O'Daniel.

• $75,000 to the Watson Fire Protection District to purchase a new fire truck.
  This project was initiated by O'Daniel.

• $65,000 to the Mount Vernon Sunshine Center to replace vehicles used in a non-profit "meals on wheels" program for senior citizens, and to buy new kitchen equipment.
  This project was initiated by Jones.

• $50,000 to Rome Township to repair existing construction equipment and to purchase a tiller and loader.
  This project was initiated by Jones.

• $50,000 to Phillips Township to purchase equipment that will maintain township roads.
  This project was initiated by Jones.

• $50,000 to Spring Garden Township to purchase equipment that will maintain township roads.
  This project was initiated by Jones.

• $40,000 to the Lawrence/Allison Fire Protection District to purchase a new fire truck.
  This project was initiated by O'Daniel.

• $25,000 to Edwards County to buy eight automated defibrillators that will be used by local police, fire and rescue agencies. The county does not have a tax-supported ambulance service.
  This project was initiated by Jones.

• $20,000 to Wabash County Road District 3 to improve rural roads.
  This project was initiated by Jones.

• $10,000 to White County to repair rural roads.
  This project was initiated by Jones.

• $10,000 to Hamilton County to help expand office space in the county courthouse in McLeansboro.
  This project was initiated by O'Daniel.