Ryan: $445,000 in Illinois FIRST Projects for Chicago

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $445,000 in Illinois FIRST funding for projects in Chicago, including $420,000 to the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce to assist in phase two of the O'Hare Cargo Security Project. Phase two will use a fingerprint "smart card" access system to expedite the transfer of cargo from trucks to airplanes and enhance multi-modal security by developing an Internet-based cargo manifest. It is anticipated that this new system will be two-to-four times faster than the existing manual system and will enhance efficiency.

The grant project will involve 87 trucking companies and eleven airlines and is expected to set standards for inter-modal and multi-modal transportation in the future.

This Illinois FIRST project was initiated by State Rep. Ralph Capparelli, D-Chicago.

Other Illinois FIRST grants announced by Ryan:

• $25,000 to the I AM ABLE Family Development Corporation to renovate a facility that will serve clients referred to it by mental health facilities, community organizations and public schools.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Art Turner, D-Chicago.

Illinois FIRST funds are not part of the state budget's General Revenue Fund. Recently, lagging tax collections brought on by a slowdown in the national economy and the terrorist attacks of September 11 have forced the governor to order spending cuts in the General Revenue Fund that amount to less than 2 percent of total spending. Illinois FIRST monies are derived from separate accounts in the state budget -- the Road Fund and the Fund for Illinois Future -- as well as through the sale of state bonds.