$612,000 in Illinois FIRST Projects for Far Northwest Suburbs

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $612,000 in Illinois FIRST funding for projects in the far Northwest Suburbs, including $275,000 to the City of Woodstock to construct the Challenger Learning Center for Science and Technology.

The center has been authorized by the national Challenger Center for Space Science Education to develop Illinois' first local space simulation center. The center will allow participants to become scientists and space engineers for a day, while supporting the country's goals of improving science and math education.

This Illinois FIRST project was initiated by State Rep. Jack D. Franks, D-Woodstock.

Other Illinois FIRST grants announced by Ryan:

• $107,000 to the Village of East Dundee to purchase safety equipment as follows:
  $66,000 to equip five patrol cars with mobile data computer equipment.
  $16,000 to upgrade the current weather warning system.
  $15,000 to purchase a mobile traffic monitoring system.
  $10,000 to purchase ten portable radios for patrol cars.

• $100,000 to Maple Park and Countryside Fire Protection District to purchase a mini-pumper rescue truck. The village and district are contributing $30,000.

• $100,000 to Pierce Township to purchase a road grader with a snow wing. The township is contributing $83,725.

• $30,000 to Big Rock Fire Protection District to construct an addition to serve as an emergency shelter. The district is contributing $23,500.

State Rep. Patricia Reid Lindner, R-Sugar Grove, initiated all of these projects.