$1.2 Million in Illinois FIRST Projects for Northwest Illinois

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $1,226,300 in Illinois FIRST funding for projects in Northwest Illinois, including $328,000 to the City of Rock Island Fire Department to purchase twenty thermal imaging cameras.

The cameras are state-of-the-art and enable fire fighters to "see" through heavy smoke and locate victims trapped by fire.

This Illinois FIRST project was initiated by State Rep. Joel Brunsvold, D-Rock Island.

Other Illinois FIRST grants announced by Ryan:

• $150,000 to the Village of Pearl City to make improvements on its water delivery system.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Ronald Lawfer, R-Freeport.

• $100,000 to Sauk Valley Community College, Dixon to upgrade the school's technology infrastructure. The college is contributing $476,625.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. Todd Sieben, R-Geneseo.

• $100,000 to the Village of German Valley to construct a holding tank for its wastewater treatment system and a water softening system at the pump house.
  This project was initiated by Lawfer.

• $100,000 to the Henry County Emergency Services Association to construct an emergency service center in Colona, which will house an Air-Evac medical helicopter. The Colona Fire District is contributing $23,812.
  This project was initiated by State Sen. Denny Jacobs, D-Moline.

• $50,000 to Tampico Area Historical Society to renovate a museum and to purchase and install new equipment.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Jerry Mitchell, R-Rock Falls.

• $50,000 to the Dixon Riverfront Commission to complete the first stage of the development of the Rock River Riverfront.
  This project was initiated by Mitchell.

• $65,000 to Manlius Township to construct a new storage shed.
  This project was initiated by Sieben and Mitchell.

• $40,000 to the Polo Public Library to replace the climate control system. The city and memorial gifts are contributing $23,000.
  This project was initiated by Mitchell.

• $38,000 to Edgington Township to purchase a building in Reynolds for use as a township road district maintenance garage and offices. The township is contributing $26,000.
  This project was initiated by Jacobs.

• $25,000 to Hanover Ambulance to purchase a new ambulance. The village is contributing $85,000.
  This project was initiated by Sieben.

• $25,000 to the Fulton Fire Protection to purchase a thermal heat imaging device.
  This project was initiated by Jacobs.

• $15,000 to Timber Lake Playhouse, Mt. Carroll to upgrade its sound system.
  This project was initiated by Lawfer.

• $14,800 to the Quad City Bomb Squad to purchase a bomb suit.
  This project was initiated by Jacobs.

• $25,500 to Reynolds Fire Protection District to purchase "jaws of life" extraction equipment.
  This project was initiated by Jacobs and Brunsvold.

• $10,000 to each of the following Fire Protection Districts to purchase thermal imaging cameras:
  • Galena
  • Forreston
  • East Dubuque
  • Stockton
  • Scales Mound
  • Pearl City Fire
  • Orangeville
  • Cedarville
  These projects were initiated by Lawfer.

• $10,000 to WVIK- Augustana Public Radio to purchase equipment for the radio station.
  This project was initiated by Jacobs.

• $10,000 to the Ashton Fire Protection District to purchase a thermal imaging camera.
  This project was initiated by Sieben.
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