GOVERNOR TOURS MUMS FACILITY IN PINCKNEYVILLE

PINCKNEYVILLE -- Governor George H. Ryan today toured the Matsushita Universal Media Services (MUMS) facility in Pinckneyville. Earlier this year, Ryan awarded MUMS $4.7 million in state assistance for the expansion of the Pinckneyville facility.

"The MUMS project has been a huge boost for southern Illinois," Ryan said. "High technology jobs are sorely needed in this area, especially in the wake of recent mine closings and other economic challenges.

"The state's investment in this facility is an investment in the economic future of southern Illinois."

The $76 million project will eventually create 500 jobs and retain 400 jobs in southern Illinois. The State of Illinois assistance package consisted of $2.5 million in Illinois FIRST funds spread over two state fiscal years, $500,000 in Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP) funds, $540,000 in Business Development Public Infrastructure Program (BDPIP) funds, and $700,000 in Industrial Training Program (ITP) funds over three years. In addition, the project also received Illinois EDGE benefits and Enterprise Zone benefits.

The City of Pinckneyville received additional Illinois FIRST funds to help with costs associated with land acquisition, site preparation and construction of the 50,000 square foot warehouse adjacent to the current MUMS facility.

The partners in the MUMS joint venture are Seagrams Corporation's Universal Music and Video and Matsushita's Panasonic Disc Services. The purpose of the new company is to produce the next generation of digital media known as digital virtual discs or DVD's.