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"Mueller Co. has been producing quality products and providing good
jobs in the Central region for nearly 150 years," Gov. Blagojevich
said. "It has given thousands of employees, most often union
employees, the opportunity to earn a decent wage for a hard day's
work. It's our obligation to support this company that has invested
so much in this community and help it stay strong. This is a perfect
example of how Opportunity Returns is working to create a chance for
businesses and residents to get ahead. We can use a full range of
economic development tools to help our economy grow. The company
benefits by improving employee efficiency and productivity, and
employees learn skills for the jobs of the new century." Founded
in 1857, Decatur-based Mueller Co. is the world's largest full-line
supplier of flow control products used in distribution systems for
municipal potable water and natural gas. Mueller Co. manufactures
water meters, automatic meter reading systems and backflow
prevention devices used for water distribution, fire sprinklers and
plumbing. The company is also a significant supplier of valves for
water and wastewater treatment plants, as well as the conventional
and nuclear-fueled power generation industries.
"Since our founding, Mueller Co. has continued to adapt to our
always-changing and expanding markets," said Dan Curry, vice
president of finance for the company. "Our success in accomplishing
this has made Mueller the largest full-line supplier of flow control
products. It's through Gov. Blagojevich's Opportunity Returns
support that we are once again in a position to remain competitive,
while increasing our capacity to meet our increasing market
demands."
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will
administer this support, which will include Economic Development for
a Growing Economy tax credits and enterprise zone benefits.
This summer the company will start construction that will be
completed in mid- to late 2006; a second phase is scheduled to begin
in mid- to late 2006 or early 2007. As a result of the state's
investment, the company will invest approximately $16 million in the
project.
Gov. Blagojevich also detailed the Central region strategy for
Opportunity Returns, his comprehensive, historic plan to spur job
creation and economic development in central Illinois. The approach
represents a full range of economic development tools, including
infrastructure investments and training for the local work force.
The Central region includes Cass, Christian, Greene, Logan, Macon,
Macoupin, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Sangamon, Scott and Shelby
counties.
"Every resident in Illinois deserves a chance for a better
future," Gov. Blagojevich said. "And that's why I launched
Opportunity Returns: to unleash the untapped potential in our
state, to help businesses to grow and create jobs. The Central
region has a hardworking, talented work force, and it deserves a
chance to succeed and get ahead. Through Opportunity Returns, we can
increase entrepreneurship, create new jobs and enhance regional
tourism in central Illinois. Things are looking up across the state
-- and the Central region is no exception. Opportunity Returns is
putting people back to work."
"This much-needed funding highlights the importance of central
Illinois as a crucial partner in our goal of putting the economy of
Illinois back on the right path."
said state Rep. Bob Flider, D-Mount Zion. "I'm pleased to
join with Gov. Blagojevich in making strategic investments that will
create and retain jobs in central Illinois. This kind of technical
assistance is good news for our local economy and downstate."
Tangible steps that Gov. Blagojevich laid out as part of his
Opportunity Returns strategy include developing a world- class
health care system, strengthening education and job training,
supporting business attraction and development, promoting
entrepreneurship and innovation, capitalizing on the Lincoln legacy
and other tourism opportunities, and enhancing community
infrastructure. Among the projects that Gov. Blagojevich presented
in the Central region Opportunity Returns strategy are the
following:
As a
significant employer and driver of the local economy, the
expansion of health care services in the region is crucial, and
the governor is providing $300,000 for the development of the
Springfield Medical District, as well as financial support to
train local health care professionals, who are necessary to
maintain top-notch services.
Strengthening education, training and
development of the region's work force. Grants will be
provided to ensure the local work force has access to programs
needed to advance skill sets to prepare for the jobs of the
future. Garrett Aviation in Springfield is receiving $80,000 and
Riba Fairfield in Decatur is getting $35,000 through the Employer
Training Investment Program, which has given more than $790,000 in
grants to train 7,600 workers throughout the Central region.
Projecting worker shortages and training employees to meet
expected needs. A $173,000 planning grant from Gov.
Blagojevich's Critical Skills Shortage Initiative is helping
regional leaders identify current and projected shortages of
skilled workers, to ensure the work force is trained to meet the
employment demands both today and in the years to come. A training
grant will be announced when those occupations have been
identified.
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Supporting DemirCo and other
regional corporations to grow the regional economy and create
jobs. Gov. Blagojevich is investing nearly $2.5 million to
assist with DemirCo's plant expansion, which is creating at least
90 technology-based jobs and retaining 134 jobs in Decatur.
Various other companies throughout the region are also receiving
Opportunity Returns support, including nearly $800,000 for AGI
Media in Jacksonville, which is helping to retain 100 jobs, and a
$500,000 revolving line of credit for NewLine Hardwoods in
Beardstown, which is creating 40 new jobs and retaining 10 more.
Also, Worksaver in Litchfield is getting more than $110,000 in
grants, which is creating 20 new jobs; 65 jobs are being created
and retained at Madison Communications in Staunton through more
than $580,000 in grants; and Omnicare in Decatur is receiving more
than $640,000 in support, which is creating and retaining more
than 100 jobs. Finally, Robert's Sysco Food Service Inc. is
building a new 190,000-square-foot facility in Lincoln, which is
anticipated to create more than 170 new jobs.
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Investing in and promoting Illinois
coal. Gov. Blagojevich is also maintaining the viability of
Illinois coal by investing more than $1 million in the Monterey
Coal Company in Macoupin County, which will increase productivity,
improve reliability and reduce the costs of the mining operation,
preserving approximately 350 jobs.
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Promoting business growth and
entrepreneurship. Local businesses will have increased access
to resources to get ahead through the establishment of the Central
Illinois Entrepreneurship Center Network. Financial resources,
including challenge grants and other tools, will help spark growth
throughout the region. Recent announcements of $100,000 in funding
have highlighted the formation of the network and the launch and
expansion of Entrepreneurship Centers at both the University of
Illinois at Springfield and Millikin University.
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Building a stronger tourism base for
the region. The opening of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential
Library and Museum in Springfield presented an opportunity to
highlight the phenomenal new facilities, the many other Lincoln
sites in the region and countless other tourist attractions, as
well as the Looking for Lincoln initiative and school educational
tours about the Lincoln legacy. Gov. Blagojevich is providing more
than $1.1 million in grants for these programs and many other
projects that will spur tourism and create jobs.
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Investing in community
infrastructure. The economic vitality, health and safety of
Central region residents is paramount, and Gov. Blagojevich is
providing grants and loans around the region to maintain and
improve the quality of life in local communities. A total of $11.7
million is being invested in Central region communities by the
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of
Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Gov. Blagojevich will continue
to provide these critical investments.
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Meeting educational needs. To
have the work force needed for tomorrow, Gov. Blagojevich believes
we must invest in education today to meet the changing needs of
struggling high school students through a pilot e-Learning
initiative in Decatur. The state will provide $60,000 as it
attempts to better reach at-risk youth.
"We are able to effectively monitor economic activity in the
Central region, and every other region of the state, through our
teams that live and work in the communities that we are building and
developing," said Jack Lavin, director of the Department of Commerce
and Economic Opportunity. "I believe this is one of the most
important components of Gov. Blagojevich's Opportunity Returns
strategy because these teams are on the ground, engaging business
and creating a stronger business climate throughout the state. Our
Central team talks to business owners and local community leaders
each and every day and is on the front lines of bringing new jobs to
central Illinois."
About Opportunity Returns
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 work force, 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.
[News release] |
