Recycling Grant To Help Local Business Increase Efficiency and Competitiveness

CHICAGO – In his continuing efforts to promote environmentally-friendly ways of growing the East Central Illinois economy, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced today a $100,000 Opportunity Returns grant that will fund an Urbana business that is expanding recycling throughout the region.  This recycling grant is administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and comes as a part of Opportunity Returns, Gov. Blagojevich's pro-active, regional economic development strategy designed to create jobs and spur growth in East Central Illinois.

“Growing our economy in a way that helps our environment can be accomplished by investing in companies and communities that are expanding the recycling industry in Urbana and throughout East Central Illinois.  By supporting these kinds of innovative programs that are recycling everything from cans to computers, we are lessening the demand on our landfills and creating more jobs for our working families,” Gov. Blagojevich said.        

Community Resources, Inc. (CRI) of Urbana has received a $100,000 grant to purchase equipment essential to the company’s ability to expand its recycling processing capabilities.  CRI outgrew its previous facility and recently acquired a larger building that will accommodate enhanced recycling services to customers in East Central Illinois.  These customers include smaller recyclers, waste haulers and commercial businesses.  For additional information please contact: Matthew Snyder - 217-356-6094

“Gov. Blagojevich and I are both committed to growing our economy in a way that not only creates good jobs but helps protect our environment as well.  Opportunity Returns will continue making these kinds of important investments that are making a difference throughout the regional economy,” State Rep. Naomi Jakobsson (D-Champaign) said.

“Gov. Blagojevich understands that strategically investing in recycling is both an environmentally and economically sound decision.  This is helping to turn what could have become our trash into a reusable commodity that is spurring private investment and putting more and more people to work.  These types of progressive partnerships are what Opportunity Returns is all about,” DCEO Director Jack Lavin said.

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.