Ryan: $505,000 in Illinois FIRST Projects for Lake County

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $505,000 in Illinois FIRST funding for projects in Lake County, including $100,000 to the Village of Buffalo Grove for the expansion of its public works garage.

With the growth of the community, the current garage is too small for the storage of needed equipment and materials. The village is contributing $1.1 million.

This Illinois FIRST project was initiated by State Sen. William Peterson, R-Long Grove.

Other Illinois FIRST grants announced by Ryan:

• $100,000 to the Village of Inverness to assist with the purchase and renovation of a home next to the Village hall for use as a village hall annex. The village is contributing $151,000.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Sidney Mathias, R-Buffalo Grove.

• $60,000 to the Village of Wadsworth to dredge a water retention pond in Wadsworth Ridge subdivision.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. Adeline Geo-Karis, R-Zion.

• $68,000 to the Village of Round Lake Beach to buy new equipment for the police department that includes bullet-proof vests, video recorders for squad cars radios and motorcycle equipment.
  This project was initiated by Peterson.

• $50,000 to the Village of Buffalo Grove to expand the village's existing wireless communications network to include the park district, local school districts and community organizations.
  This project was initiated by Mathias.

• $50,000 to the Village of Buffalo Grove to control erosion along Buffalo Creek and to improve the quality of the creek water.
  This project was initiated by Peterson.

• $25,000 to the Jewish Federation of Greater Chicago to help support an expansion of the Federation's Council for Jewish Elderly into Chicago's Northwest suburbs and Lake County. The council provides needed personal services to seniors.
  This project was initiated by Mathias.

• $22,000 to the Gurnee Fire Department to help buy a thermal imaging camera that will enable firefighters to see victims through smoke or darkness.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Andrea Moore, R-Libertyville.

• $20,000 to the Senior Council of Libertyville to purchase equipment needed to supplement a variety of services the council provides for seniors, including kitchen equipment and portable stage.
  This project was initiated by Moore.

• $10,000 to Waukegan consolidated Unit School Districtto enhance hardware and software for the district's "Technology in the Classroom" initiative. The district is contributing $94,707.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Tim Osmond, R-Antioch.