Ryan: $650,000 in Illinois First Projects for East Central Illinois

SPRINGFIELD - Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $650,000 in Illinois FIRST funding for projects in East Central Illinois, including $400,000 to the City of Oakland to help construct a new water supply system.

The existing water supply from Lake Oakland has been a severe health problem since December of 1999 when it had less than a foot of depth in the entire lake. The new system will connect to the existing Embarras Area Water District, eliminating the temporary overland piping of water from Walnut Lake. This project will provide a source of safe, reliable water for city and rural area residents. This Illinois FIRST project was initiated by State Rep. Dale A. Righter, R-Mattoon.

Other Illinois FIRST grants announced by Ryan:

• $250,000 to the Cisco Fire Protection District to construct at new fire house on North Main Street.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. Duane Noland, R-Blue Mound.

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.