Recycling Grants To Help Local Businesses Increase Efficiency and Competitiveness
CHICAGO – In his continuing efforts to promote environmentally-friendly ways of growing the Southern Illinois economy, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced today nearly $210,000 in Opportunity Returns grants that will fund a number of businesses and organizations who are expanding recycling throughout the region. These recycling grants are administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and come as a part of Opportunity Returns, Gov. Blagojevich's pro-active, regional economic development strategy designed to create jobs and spur growth in Southern 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 Southern 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.
The City of DuQuoin (Perry County) has received a $7,374 grant to expand existing drop-off recycling opportunities and implement a comprehensive recycling program at the local high school. For additional information please contact: Blaine Bastien - 618-542-3841
Wayne County, in cooperation with the Career Development Center Inc., maintains a recycling facility in Fairfield. The county has been awarded a $46,800 grant to expand existing drop-off recycling sites and develop new sites. Citizens in the Southern Illinois counties of Wayne, Clay, Edwards, Hamilton and White will benefit from these expanded and new recycling opportunities. This project is anticipated to divert an additional 40 tons of recyclable commodities from being landfilled. It is also expected to create at least four new jobs, all of which will be filled by individuals with developmental disabilities. For additional information please contact: Clark Griffith - 618-842-5166
Pope County has received a $20,665 grant to expand its recycling collection program. This grant will allow Pope County to place a trailer at a new drop-off recycling site in the village of Eddyville. The truck will also be used by program staff to service recyclables from Pope County residents who are physically impeded from delivering material to a drop-off site. This project is expected to allow the Pope County Recycling Program to at least double the amount of recyclables it currently diverts from Illinois landfills. For additional information please contact: Larry Richards - 618-683-8101
Ripped To Shreds, Inc. (d.b.a. DataLock) of Mt. Vernon has been awarded a $50,000 grant to expand their recycling collection capabilities. Evolving security standards in the document destruction industry are leading current and potential customers to request a shredding method that produces a smaller particle size. This project will allow Ripped to Shreds to meet this demand. This project is expected to annually divert an additional 694 tons of recyclable commodities from being landfilled. For additional information please contact: Mary Burgan - 618-241-9481
Tamms Correctional Center (Alexander County) has been awarded a $36,506 grant to develop and implement a comprehensive recycling collection program. This project will target all recyclables generated at the facility and is anticipated to divert 25 tons of recyclable commodities from being landfilled annually. For additional information please contact: Jason Hall - 618-747-2042
TRADE Industries, a not-for-profit rehabilitation facility, located in McLeansboro has been selected to receive a $48,534 grant to expand recycling collection efforts in Hamilton County. TRADE Industries will develop drop-off recycling sites in Dahlgren and Dale and also offer recycling services to area commercial establishments. For additional information please contact: Star Gholson - 618-747-4321
“As we move full speed ahead with our efforts to stimulate the economy and create more jobs in Southern Illinois, Gov. Blagojevich and I understand we cannot leave our environmental responsibilities behind. These Opportunity Returns grants are such valuable assets to Southern Illinois because it will expand recycling programs throughout the region that are beneficial to the environment and the economy,” State Senator Gary Forby (D-Benton) said.
“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 in Southern Illinois,” State Rep. Kurt Granberg (D-Centralia) said.
“Throughout Southern Illinois, Gov, Blagojevich is giving business and industry the resources they need to be more competitive and more productive. Through these Opportunity Returns grants, we are expanding markets for a very important industry in our state, strengthening its capacity to create more jobs and continuing to make a positive impact on the Southern Illinois economy,” State Rep. Brandon Phelps (D-Harrisburg) 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.