Ryan: $1 Million in Illinois FIRST Projects for the South Suburbs

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $1,237,250 in Illinois FIRST funding for projects for the South Suburbs, including $500,000 to Calumet City to help replace sidewalk and a parkway along Burnham Avenue from Sibley Boulevard to Michigan City Road.

This project is a part of the Burnham Avenue Beautification Project to enhance the public right-of-way in the city. The city is contributing $1,575,000.

Other Illinois FIRST grants announced by Ryan:

• $125,000 to the Community Family Service & Mental Health Association, Berwyn, to pay off the mortgage on its facility.
  This Illinois FIRST project was initiated by State Rep. Eileen Lyons, R-Western Springs.

• $65,000 to the Park Forest/Olympia Fields Library to replace wiring and ceiling tiles and install new lighting fixtures in the Fiction/Youth Services and circulation area. The library is contributing $16,000.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. George F. Scully, Jr., D-Flossmoor.

• $30,000 to the Valley Kingdom Community Development Corporation to support personnel at its Bethesda Center.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Harold Murphy, D-Markham.

• $24,600 to the Steger Estates Fire Protection District to purchase a vehicle to fight brush fires and provide rescue and squad services. The district is contributing $25,400.
  This project was initiated by Scully.

• $20,000 to the Crestwood Fire Department to purchase two thermal imaging cameras.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Maggie Crotty, D-Oak Forest.

• $20,000 to the Village of Homewood to support a Senior Taxi Fare Transportation Program.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. William F. Mahar, R-Orland Park.

• $20,000 to the Will County Department of Highways to install a traffic light at Nelson and Laraway Roads.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Renee Kosel, R-New Lenox.

• $11,000 to the J. Claude Allen Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Dixmoor, to support its youth mentoring and tutorial programs.
  This project was initiated by Murphy.

• $10,000 to the Metropolitan Family Services for the development of housing opportunities for adults with chronic mental illness.

• $3,350 to the Rich Township Seniors to support a senior citizen Meals on Wheels program.
  This project was initiated by Scully.

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.