Reis/Jones: CDAP Grant Approved for Clay County

October 18, 2005

Grant Funds from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity amounting to $200,000 for Clay County has been approved according to State Senator John O. Jones and State Representative David Reis.  The CDAP Public Facilities and Design Engineering Component grant funds will be used to design water lines to bring municipal quality water to rural areas of southeast Clay County.

“These infrastructure improvements are fundamental to ensuring that our working families have access to the basic necessities that most of us take for granted” said Reis.  “This program will not only improve the health and quality of life of those working families in southeastern Clay County but will also provide the necessary infrastructure for economic growth.  With a healthy and viable infrastructure, our communities possess a greater economic atmosphere for creating jobs and prospering.”

Both Representative Reis and Senator Jones agree that ensuring the region has a safe and dependable water supply is an essential part of creating and retaining good jobs in the region.

“Obviously, one of the most important issues we face here in southeastern Illinois is the issue of jobs and job creation,” Jones said. “In order to attract new jobs and new opportunities, communities need to have the right resources to be competitive. Grants like these can really help a community get their local economy on the right track. I believe this grant will go a long way toward improving the economic development opportunities in Clay County.”