Ryan: $306,800 in Illinois FIRST Projects for the Northwest Suburbs

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $306,800 in Illinois FIRST funding for projects in the Northwest Suburbs, including $236,800 to Schaumburg Township to purchase lighting, an underground watering system, office furniture and equipment, software, a 19 passenger wheelchair lift equipped bus and to make improvements to a walkway at its township building.

The township/building provides assistance to seniors and disabled citizens, youth programs, and counseling and is used daily for meetings, events, meals and exercise programs. This Illinois FIRST project received grants initiated by:

• State Rep. Kay Wojcik, R-Schaumburg
• State Rep. Terry R. Parke, R-Hoffman Estates

Other Illinois FIRST grants announced by Ryan:

• $50,000 to the Community and Economic Development Association to make building and playground improvements for the establishment of a Head Start Program in Prospect Heights.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. Dave Sullivan, R-Mount Prospect.

• $20,000 to the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago to make tub & shower room renovations at its Lieberman Center in Skokie.
  This project was initiated by Sullivan.

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.