CHICAGO – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced $1.75 million in funding for new sanitation and water drainage improvements throughout West Central Illinois.  As part of Opportunity Returns, the Governor’s aggressive, pro-active economic development strategy, these key investments will significantly improve the health and quality of life for working families, while strengthening crucial public infrastructure that supports and attracts economic development.

“Every man, woman and child deserves to have clean water in a safe, strong and healthy community.  These improvements will ensure that many more West Central Illinois families have those opportunities that most of us take for granted.  Making these investments will also make these communities a more attractive place for business, which will help them grow and create more new jobs,” Gov. Blagojevich said.

This funding is part of the Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP), a federally-funded grant program that assists Illinois communities by providing grants to local governments, which are designed to help finance economic development, public facilities and housing rehabilitation projects.  The program is administered through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), where it is used to effectively target and assist low-to-moderate income people by improving their quality of life and creating job opportunities.

“These kinds of water and sanitation improvements are vital to the growth and expansion of our local economy.  By making investments at the community level, Gov. Blagojevich and I are setting the stage for even more economic growth that will help put even more people to work,” State Senator John Sullivan (D-Rushville) said.

The CDAP grants are designed to address the critical needs of Illinois’ communities.  Communities must ensure that their infrastructure undergoes rehabilitation and upgrades in line with changing regulations issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  Also, the shifting demographics of communities and loss of drinkable water wells require that local infrastructure be equipped to meet the needs of the population it serves and the challenges posed by an ever-changing environment.   

Adequate sewer and water service is also vital to community and economic development.  Without basic infrastructure, communities cannot compete for company relocation and expansion, but with a healthy infrastructure in place, communities can create jobs and prosper. 

The West Central region’s public facilities improvements are as follows:

LOCATION	DESCRIPTION	COST
City of Bushnell	Replace cast iron water mains	$350,000
Village of Coatsburg	Construct new wastewater collection system that connects to the Adams county system	$350,000
Village of Columbus	Construction of new waste water system to connect to Adams County system	$350,000
Village of London Mills	Construction of water tower and revisions to pump house	$350,000
City of Macomb	Replace 13,000 linear feet of water mains in a targeted area in the Northeast portion of city	$350,000
	Total:	$1,750,000

              
    
“Gov. Blagojevich is demonstrating his ability to plan effectively by improving vital infrastructure that increases the competitiveness of communities throughout West Central Illinois.  Investing in safe and reliable water and sanitation systems is an important component in making these communities highly attractive to businesses.  These grants are important steps in building a solid foundation that can adequately support strong economic growth and community development,” said DCEO Director Jack Lavin.   

Gov. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois’ history.  Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn’t work, the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions – each with a regional team that is empowered and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges.  Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses.  It is about upgrading the skills of the local workforce, increasing the access to capital, opening new markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs.  Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach its economic potential.