Ryan: $1.5 Million in Illinois FIRST Projects for Chicago

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $1.5 million in Illinois FIRST funding for projects in Chicago, including $210,000 to the Coalition for United Community Action for a program that will help minority and women construction workers find training and instruction that will enable them to take on supervisory positions.

The Coalition will implement "Project Upgrade" and is open to journey-level carpenters, operating engineers, plumbers, electricians, sheet metal workers and iron workers. The training will include construction management, bidding, project scheduling and contracts.

This Illinois FIRST project was initiated by Senate Democratic Leader Emil Jones, Jr. of Chicago.

Other Illinois FIRST grants announced by Ryan:

• $120,000 to the Lakeside Community Committee to launch a comprehensive education and prevention campaign to combat AIDS/HIV.
  This project was initiated by Jones.

• $100,000 to the Outreach Mission Christian Center - House of Daniel to provide employment training in automobile repair for homeless men the center serves.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. Rickey Hendon, D-Chicago.

• $95,000 to the Chicago Youth Center to fund activities at the Centro Nuestro Youth Center affiliate in the Humboldt Park/Logan Square area that include a violence prevention program, an after-school day care and teen mentoring programs.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. William Delgado, D-Chicago.

• $70,000 to the Drexel Boulevard Mansion Foundation to help run a tourist education program for at-risk youth that focus on the Drexel Boulevard area of the city.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Louvana Jones, D-Chicago.

• $60,000 to the Near Northwest Civic Committee to help fund activities and programs to prevent juvenile delinquency that will serve about 800 young people.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Edgar Lopez, D-Chicago.

• $55,000 to Ada S. McKinely Community Services, Inc. to help support early intervention programs and tutoring for 150 young people.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Shirley Jones, D-Chicago and State Rep. Connie Howard, D-Chicago.

• $50,000 to the I AM ABLE Family Development Corporation to rehabilitate the organization's facility in order to provide services for families in the inner city.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Arthur Turner, D-Chicago.

• $50,000 to the Counseling Center of Lakeview to purchase a 14-passenger van to help transport seniors to various programs, as well as support for the center's Hispanic social services and substance abuse counseling program.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. John Cullerton, D-Chicago.

• $50,000 to the Beverly Arts Center to establish a scholarship program for up to 300 students in music, theater, dance ad visual arts.
  This project was initiated by Emil Jones, Jr.

• $50,000 to the Women's Treatment Center to help fund substance abuse prevention and treatment programs for young women, mothers and their children.
  This project was initiated by Shirley Jones.

• $50,000 to the Lakeside Community Committee to fund an AIDS/HIV awareness program aimed at women.
  This project was initiated by Shirley Jones.

• $50,000 to the Chicago Military Academy - Bronzeville to conduct a four-week transition program for new cadets to this public school.
  This project was initiated by Louvana Jones.

• $50,000 to the Christ Apostolic Church to help fund vocational training programs for disadvantaged youth through CHARISMA, the church's community action arm.
  This project was initiated by Louvana Jones.

• $50,000 to the Coalition for United Community Action-ORTC to help prepare minorities and women for jobs in construction trades.
  This project was initiated by Louvana Jones.

• $50,000 to the 83rd and Michigan Block Club Community Organization to buy light fixtures, fences and gates for homes in the area.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago.

• $40,000 to the Merit Music Program to help fund free music education to about 4,000 city children of all ages.
  This project was initiated by Shirley Jones.

• $35,000 to the Community Workshop on Economic Development to help support technical assistance for emerging businesses by the workshop, which is a coalition of 55 community organizations.
  This project was initiated by Hendon.

• $35,000 to progressive Community Development to establish a 10-station computer technology learning lab for young people in conjunction with the Progressive Baptist Church.
  This project was initiated by Louvana Jones.

• $25,000 to the Agency Metropolitan Program Center to develop a GIS computer system to aid in economic development and community revitalization.
  This project was initiated by Hendon.

• $25,000 to the North Star Mission to fund job counseling programs, training and personal development for low-income men and women.
  This project was initiated by Hendon.

• $25,000 to the Support Advocates for Women both Inside and Outside of Prison for programs at Leslie's Place, a transitional living facility for women leaving prison.
  This project was initiated by Louvana Jones.

• $25,000 to the Youth Guidance Corner Connection Program to fund tutoring, after-school and parent-student development programs at Stowe Elementary School.
  This project was initiated by Delgado.

• $25,000 to the Joshua Missionary Baptist Church to help support a teenage Christian service program.
  This project was initiated by Hendon.

• $25,000 to the Westside Association for Community Action to help fund an after-school creative arts program for young people aged 8 to 16.
  This project was initiated by Hendon.

• $20,000 to th4 Old Irving Park Association to purchase playground equipment and make improvements at Kolmar Park.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Richard Bradley, D-Chicago.

• $20,000 to I Care to purchase equipment and to support a one-year computer training program for junior and senior high school students.
  This project was initiated by Hendon.

• $20,000 to Youth Guidance Comer School Development to support programs for 1,000 high-risk students and their families at Jordan Elementary School, Burnham/Anthony Elementary School. The schools are contributing $165,000.
  These projects were initiated by Howard and State Rep. Julie Hamos, D-Chicago.

• $20,000 to the Concerned Citizens, Inc. to support services for the homeless and battered women and their families at their facility, Mother's House.
  This project was initiated by Hendon.

• $15,000 to the Al Carter Youth Foundation to support academic and sports development programs for young people.
  This project was initiated by Shirley Jones.

• $15,000 to the Open Book Program to support after-school programs for teens.
  This project was initiated by Louvana Jones.

• $15,000 to the Chicago Park District to purchase equipment and develop a playground at Galewood Park. The district is contributing $210,000.
  This project was initiated by Hendon.

• $15,000 to the Campaign for a Drug Free Westside to expand its existing after-school programs that target cultural activities.
  This project was initiated by Louvana Jones.

• $10,000 to Fantasia Juvenil to help fund cultural arts experiences for young people.
  This project was initiated by Delgado.

• $5,000 to the Devon Northtown Business and Professional Association to purchase promotional materials for the area's businesses.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. Ira Silverstein, D-Chicago.

• $5,000 to the New Phoenix Assistance Center to help provide supports services to 33 HIV affected people.
  This project was initiated by Howard.

• $5,000 to Working in the Schools to purchase reading kits that will help expand a volunteer tutoring and mentoring program in 24 elementary schools.
  This project was initiated by Howard.