Press Releases
Ryan: $524,600 in Illinois FIRST Projects for North Central Illinois
SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $524,600 in Illinois FIRST funding for projects in North Central Illinois, including $120,000 to the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria to implement a collaborative biotechnology/biomedical research initiative for the surrounding region.
The plan will guide long-term actions toward increasing the area's visibility and viability as a center of biotechnology/biomedical research.
This Illinois FIRST project was initiated by State Sen. George P. Shadid, D-Edwards.
Other Illinois FIRST grants announced by Ryan:
This project was initiated by State Sen. John W. Maitland, Jr., R-Bloomington.
This project was initiated by Maitland.
This project was initiated by State Rep. Donald L. Moffitt, R-Gilson.
This project was initiated by Maitland.
This project was initiated by Maitland.
This project was initiated by Moffitt.
This project was initiated by Moffitt.
This project was initiated by Shadid.
This project was initiated by State Rep. Michael K. Smith, D-Canton.
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.
Press Releases