Ryan: $7.8 Million in Illinois FIRST Projects for Dupage County and the West Suburbs

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $7,838,350 in Illinois FIRST funding for projects in DuPage County and the West Suburbs, including $6 million to the DuPage County Forest Preserve District to purchase 18 acres located in unincorporated DuPage County.

The land will be kept in its natural state and used for education and public recreation. This land is surrounded on three sides by open space maintained as the Morton Arboretum.

This Illinois FIRST project was initiated by Senate President James "Pate" Philip, R-Wood Dale.

Other Illinois FIRST grants announced by Ryan:

• $1,000,000 to the Illinois Housing Development Authority to establish a demonstration program to build "spec homes" that are accessible to the disabled.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. James H. "Jim" Meyer, R-Bolingbrook.

• $175,000 to the Village of Bolingbrook to help widen the roadway from Falconridge Way to Ashbury Avenue and construct a turn lane at Monroe Road. The village is contributing $97,000. This project was initiated by State Sen. Kirk W. Dillard, R-Hinsdale.

• $94,000 to the Village of North Riverside to purchase police safety and education equipment. The village is contributing $30,000.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. James B. Durkin, R-Westchester.

• $82,000 to the Downers Grove Fire Department to purchase a vehicle for its Heavy Rescue Squad. The department is contributing $127,507.
  This program was initiated by Dillard.

• $80,000 to the Village of Lemont to restore an historical structure on McCarthy Road that resembles a castle.
  This project was initiated by Meyer.

• $80,000 to the Wheaton Park District to help construct a parking lot at Cosley Zoo and to renovate a parking lot at its Senior Citizens Leisure Center. The district is contributing $44,635.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Randall M. Hultgren, R-Wheaton.

• $75,000 to the Village of Willowbrook to construct a sidewalk on the south side of 59th Street between Western Avenue and Bentley Avenue.
  This project was initiated by Dillard.

• $70,000 to the Woodridge Park District to purchase and install playground equipment at Ide's Grove West Park. The district is contributing $42,526.
  This project was initiated by Dillard.

• $64,350 to the Batavia Fire Department to purchase fire, rescue and safety equipment.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Timothy L. Schmitz, R-Batavia.

• $48,000 to Aspire, a not-for-profit corporation that provides facilities and services for persons with developmental disabilities and Alzheimer's disease, to complete bathroom renovations at its facility in Bellwood.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. Thomas J. Walsh, R-LaGrange Park.

• $25,000 to the Westmont Police Department to purchase install computer systems for its police cars.
  This project was initiated by Dillard.

• $15,000 to Cities in Schools in Aurora 2000,a nonprofit organization and the nation's largest stay-in-school network, to purchase a copy machine, projector, phone service and computers. Donations of $610,000 from the city, $120,000 from Illinois Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services and $75,000 from School District 131 is being contributed.
  This project was initiated by Schmitz.

• $10,000 to the City of Wheaton to install traffic turn arrows at Wiesbrook/Herrick/Butterfield Roads.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. Peter Roskam, R-Wheaton.

• $10,000 to the Downer's Grove School District 58 to purchase software and equipment for O'Neill Middle School.
  This project was initiated by Dillard.
• $10,000 to the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault to make facility improvements and/or purchase equipment for its 29 member centers.
  This project was initiated by Durkin.

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.