Jones/Reis: Area Communities in Line for Economic Improvement Grants

August 2, 2006

Springfield.….State Senator John O. Jones (R-Mt. Vernon) and State Representative David Reis (R-Ste. Marie) today announced that four local communities will be receiving nearly $1.3 million in economic improvement grants.

The grants are part of the Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP), which is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The CDAP grants are given to communities to assist them with economic development projects. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) administers the CDAP grant program in Illinois.

“This grant program helps communities attract businesses and ultimately improve their local economy,” Jones said. “Economic development means growth which raises concerns about how to meet the growing demand for basic community services. These grants assist local governments in providing those basic services so that they can better meet the challenges of developing their communities.”

The local communities in line for grants are:

$350,000 to replace aging water lines in Effingham.
$229,700 for storm sewer repairs for the Village of Montrose.
$350,000 to replace and repair leaking water main in the Village of Watson.
$350,000 for the Phase 5 of the rural water expansion in Wabash County.

"Through the years CDAP grants have provided communities with the resources needed to repair and expand their basic public safety infrastructures," Reis said."Providing properly maintained sewer systems and safe drinking water is essential to maintaining our rural way of life."

For more information contact Senator John O. Jones at 618-242-9511 or Representative Reis at 618-392-0108.