Ryan: $50,000 in Illinois FIRST Projects for North Central Illinois

SPRINGFIELD - Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $50,000 in Illinois FIRST funding for projects in Central Illinois, including $40,000 to the Henderson Fire Protection District to help purchase a new water tanker.

The district's current 23-year old tanker does not hold an adequate amount of water to serve the 45 square miles it covers. The district is contributing $110,000. This Illinois FIRST project was initiated by State Rep. Donald L. Moffitt, R-Gilson.

Other Illinois FIRST grants announced by Ryan:

• $10,000 to Abilities Plus, Inc., a not-for profit corporation that serves persons who have developmental disabilities in Henry and Stark Counties or the western portion of Bureau County. The corporation will hire a consultant to assist in a study of how the corporation can fund a new building through a capital campaign.
  This project was initiated by Moffitt.

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.