Opportunity Returns grant helps Illiopolis water supply      

[FEB. 23, 2005]  FORSYTH -- State Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, and state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, applaud Gov. Rod Blagojevich for selecting the village of Illiopolis to receive a $200,000 Opportunity Returns grant. The funds will be used to help the village to reroute a water main following the devastating explosion at the Formosa Plastics plant.

"Senator Bill Brady and I have been pushing for months to have the money for Illiopolis be included in the governor's Opportunity Returns plan for central Illinois," said Mitchell. "We are pleased that the announcement has been made and the village of Illiopolis will receive some much-needed financial relief after a very difficult year."

"The people of Illiopolis have had a lot to endure this past year, starting with a deadly explosion that claimed five lives and severely hurt the economic viability of the town," Brady said. "This money is desperately needed to assist this small community recover."

Prior to the explosion, the Formosa plant employed 133 employees. Today, that number is down to 50. To help the plant save money during its recovery, Formosa officials turned over control of the water plant to the village. The water plant serves the entire village of Illiopolis.

"This money is needed to help the village reroute the water main from plant property to along Route 36," Mitchell said. "A viable water system is critical to any community, and these funds will be well-spent to ensure a quality water supply for Illiopolis residents for years to come."

The village of Illiopolis is expected to receive a $100,000 grant from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency through its existing public drinking water infrastructure funding, and $100,000 will be given from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's Community Development Assistance Program.

The governor's Opportunity Returns program is designed to help promote jobs and economic development in Illinois. The governor is expected to announce his plan for the Central region in the near future.

[News release from Rep. Bill Mitchell]