$882,500 in Illinois FIRST Projects for Suburban Cook County

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $882,500 in Illinois FIRST funding for projects in Chicago and Suburban Cook County, including $250,000 to Dominican University in River Forest.

This grant will help fund the renovation and reconstruction of the Rebecca Crown Library, including significant technological updates.

This Illinois FIRST project was initiated by State Sen. Dan Cronin, R-Elmhurst.

Other Illinois FIRST grants announced by Ryan:

• $200,000 to the City of Northlake to make improvements to Northwest Avenue, including new pavement and an upgraded signal at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Northwest Avenue.
  This project was initiated by Cronin.

• $125,000 to the City of Niles to reconstruct Central Avenue from Jarvis Avenue to Howard Street, replacing the existing asphalt roadway with a concrete surface.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Ralph C. Capparelli, D-Chicago.

• $100,000 to the Chicago Park District for improvements to Centennial Park, including the demolition and removal of pavement and the addition of historically themed landscaping throughout the park.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. Walter Dudycz, R-Chicago.

• $63,000 to the Village of Schiller Park for the construction of a new salt dome for the storage of road salt and other road care products.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Michael McAuliffe, R- Chicago.

• $62,000 to the Village of Schiller Park for the construction of a new salt dome for the storage of road salt and other road care products.
  This project was initiated by Dudycz.

• $20,000 to the Chicago Park District for improvements to Centennial Park, including the demolition and removal of pavement and the addition of historically themed landscaping throughout the park.
  This project was initiated by Capparelli.

• $15,000 to the Friends of Onahan Rockets for Students Program to subsidize costs for students to participate in a rocket building competition. The students will build, develop and plan the launching of a six-foot rocket with a payload.
  This project was initiated by Dudycz.

• $12,500 to the Chicago Public Schools to replace fifty-year-old chalkboards with dry mark boards.
  This project was initiated by Dudycz.

• $12,500 to the Chicago Public Schools to purchase laptop computers that will be made available to each classroom in Smyser School.
  This project was initiated by Dudycz.

• $12,500 to the Chicago Public Schools to replace window panes and sashes at Edgebrook School.
  This project was initiated by Dudycz.

• $10,000 to the Friends of Onahan Rockets for Students Program to subsidize costs for students to participate in a rocket building competition. The students will build, develop and plan the launching of a six-foot rocket with a payload.
  This project was initiated by Capparell.