Ryan: $590,150 in Illinois FIRST Projects for the South Suburbs

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $620,150 in Illinois FIRST funding for projects in the South Suburbs, including $50,000 to the Village of Richton Park to make improvements to its community pool.

The improvements will include installing an American with Disabilities Act compliant ramp, drinking fountain and pool chair lift.

This Illinois FIRST project was initiated by State Rep. Renee Kosel, R-New Lenox.

Other Illinois FIRST grants announced by Ryan:

• $50,000 to the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago to establish a computer lab at the South Suburban YMCA. The South Suburban YMCA is contributing $13,000.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete.

• $45,000 to the Village of Flossmoor to purchase two new police cars.

• $40,000 to the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Chicago to purchase audio & video equipment and to develop and distribute videos with information on how assistive technology can help individuals with disabilities learn, play, communicate and become employed.

• $30,000 to the Sertoma Center, Alsip to remodel its second job training center.

• $30,000 to Tinley Park Park District to purchase equipment for its skate park at Centennial Park. The district is contributing $120,000.

• $30,000 to Country Club Hills Park District to purchase exercise equipment for its Cardio Theatre exercise area located in the Community and Recreational Center.

• $30,000 to PLOWS Council on Aging to purchase office furniture, computers, a telephone system and a copy machine.

• $25,000 to South Star Services to purchase a fire/security alarm system, carpeting, lockers, kitchen appliances, table and chairs and three computers.

• $25,000 to the Crisis Center for South Suburbia to purchase office equipment and furniture. The center is contributing $64,745.

• $25,000 to the Village of Homewood to implement a "Taxi Fare" program that will provide transportation services to senior citizens.

• $20,000 to Covenant Enabling Residences of Illinois to purchase a 15 passenger van.

• $20,000 to South Suburban PADS to purchase a building for use as an office and a support service facility.

• $20,000 to Rich Township to support a program that provides rides to seniors and disabled residents of the township.

• $15,000 to the Oak Forest Park District to purchase materials for a storage/concession building, household equipment and supplies for the senior center and ground cover for the playground.

• $15,000 to each of the following public libraries:
  
• Orland Park to purchase computers, accessories and furniture.
  
• Homewood to purchase seven computer systems and an online magazine index.
  
• Acorn to purchase new and replacement books for the children's and young adult's areas.
  
• Tinley Park to purchase computer workstations.

• $15,000 To Thornton Township to purchase and install equipment for the audio visual room at its Senior/Youth & Family Services facility in Riverdale.

• $12,000 to the Southwest Community Services to purchase computer systems, software and therapeutic equipment.

• $10,000 to the Cancer Support Center to purchase two computer workstations, library tables and printers.

• $10,000 to the Illinois Wisconsin Sertoma Regional Center for Communicative Disorders, Inc., to purchase computer hardware and software.

• $10,000 to the Cancer Support Center for construction, renovation, electrical, telephone and computer cabling work and to purchase books, tapes, videos and journals.
  This project was initiated by Halvorson.

• $9,000 to Pregnancy Aid South Suburbs to purchase a copier.

• $3,500 to the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association to provide a "household hazardous waste" collection in Frankfort.

• $5,000 to the Illinois Wisconsin Sertoma Regional Center for Communicative Disorders, Inc., to purchase materials for its Speech and Audiology Departments.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Maggie Crotty, D-Oak Forest.

• $650 to the Village of Hazel Crest Police Department to purchase a zip drive and a digital camera.