Press Release - Thursday, October 26, 2006
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Gov. Blagojevich announces an additional $6 million in Opportunity Returns funding to the City of Geneva
GENEVA --- Governor Rod R. Blagojevich announced today that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has approved a $6 million loan from the Agency's Public Water Supply Loan Program, which will enable the Kane County city of Geneva to continue improvements at their drinking water treatment plant, including treating for radium. IEPA Director Doug Scott presented a ceremonial "big check" in Geneva today.
This Illinois EPA loan is funding another phase of this multi-year project. A previous loan of $3,187,768 was approved to fund associated projects, including construction of one new shallow well, two new deep wells and a variety of new water transmission units. An additional $14.4 million in costs remaining for the water treatment plant project will be accommodated through additional loans and loan amendments as loan funds become available this fiscal year and next, with the project total expected to reach $27.5 million. The Geneva improvements are the largest single drinking water project ever financed through the Public Water Supply Loan Program.
The City is engaged in a multi-year, multi-phase effort to construct a new 8 million gallons per day water treatment plant that will allow the City to consistently meet radium standards and to improve the quality of the water, primarily by reducing hardness and eliminating the need for in-home water softeners. The project will also allow the City to meet normal growth rates and increased water demands associated with the growth of the City.
The funding for the project is being provided through the Illinois EPA as part of Opportunity Returns, the Governor's comprehensive, pro-active economic development plan for Northeast region.
"Having clean and safe water is something every man, woman and child deserves, and we are going to do everything we can to make that happen. By helping communities with these vital improvements at their water treatment systems, we are making them even better places to live and work in," Gov. Blagojevich said.
The loan from the Illinois EPA is part of the Agency's Revolving Loan Program that utilizes federal and state funding to provide loans for eligible drinking water and wastewater treatment projects at half the market interest rate. Interest and principle paid on the 20-year loans is returned to the fund to support other low interest loans.
"Illinois EPA has worked closely with communities across the state such as Geneva to assist them in complying with the federal standards for treating naturally-occurring radium as well as assuring adequate capacity for future growth," said Director Scott.
"It is through this state and federal partnership of the loan program that we are able to address the infrastructure needs of our communities," said Illinois EPA Director Doug Scott. "I appreciate of the efforts of Illinois' congressional delegation and state legislators for proposing enhanced funding for the State Revolving Fund and for new grant funding that is vital in helping Illinois communities maintain effective and efficient treatment systems."
Due to Illinois' critical need for safe drinking water and effective wastewater treatment systems,
Gov. Blagojevich has demanded that the federal government fully capitalize the State Revolving Fund, which is 80 percent federally-funded. Since the Clean Water Act was passed more than 30 years ago, the federal government's funding for clean water infrastructure has decreased by 70 percent. This year's federal budget proposal would leave many local communities without the resources to complete the necessary infrastructure improvements necessary to protect public health and promote economic development.
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.
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