CHICAGO – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced nearly $3.4 million in funding for the rehabilitation of 98 owner occupied homes throughout Southern Illinois.  These home improvements will drastically enhance the living environments and quality of life for low-income and disabled local residents, as well as building the capacity for more economic growth.  This aggressive effort to improve living conditions for the region’s most underserved residents is part of the Governor’s Opportunity Returns initiative, his comprehensive, pro-active strategy for continuing to create better jobs for more people across Southern Illinois.

“The fundamental goal of Opportunity Returns is to expand greater economic opportunity to the people in Southern Illinois.  But if people are struggling to meet their basic survival needs, the opportunity for economic advancement is only a dream.  By refurbishing these homes and creating a safer place to live, we’re helping meet the essential needs of these hardworking men and women so that they can build better lives,” Gov. Blagojevich said.

The funds for this initiative are part of the Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP), a federally-funded grant program that assists Illinois communities by providing grants to local governments to help them in financing economic development, public facilities and housing rehabilitation projects.  The program is targeted to assist low-to-moderate income people by creating job opportunities and improving the quality of their living environment.  The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) administers the program.  The Illinois Housing Development Authority will match the funds with additional state funding of $826,000 from the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund to assist the 98 homeowners across Southern Illinois. 

Gov. Blagojevich has developed the following objectives for the CDAP program:

• Strengthen community economic development through the creation of jobs, stimulation of private investment and strengthening the tax base;

• Improvement of public infrastructure and elimination of conditions which are detrimental to health, safety and public welfare; and
                               
• Conservation and expansion of the state's housing stock in order to provide a decent home and a suitable living environment for persons of low-to-moderate income and the developmentally disabled.

These grants being provided to Southern Illinois fall under the third objective.  They are designed to help provide safe and sanitary living conditions for low-to-moderate income residents. 

The Southern region’s housing improvements are as follows:

LOCATION/COUNTY	DESCRIPTION	CDAP FUNDS	TRUST FUND CONTRIBUTION
City of Benton, Franklin	Rehabilitate 12 owner occupied homes	$349,947	$101,112
Village of Bluford,   Jefferson	Rehabilitate 11 owner occupied homes	$349,713	$92,686
City of Carbondale,       Jackson	Rehabilitate 10 owner occupied homes	$350,000	$84,260
Village of Colp,   Williamson	Rehabilitate 15 owner occupied homes	$335,150	$126,390
City of Herrin,   Williamson	Rehabilitate 16 owner occupied homes	$303,140	$134,816
City of Johnston City,   Williamson	Rehabilitate 14 owner occupied homes	$294,256	$117,964
Village of Pulaski,   Pulaski	Rehabilitate 8 owner occupied homes	$209,970	$67,408
City of Zeigler,   Franklin	Rehabilitate 12 owner occupied homes	$349,362	$101,112
	Total:	$2,541,538	$825,748

“Gov. Blagojevich and I believe that creating greater economic opportunity begins with strengthening the core foundation of our communities.  These grants won’t just help build nearly 100 better homes for our residents, they will help build a more vibrant place to live and work for all of these communities,” State Senator Gary Forby (D-Benton) said. 
 
"I want to thank Gov. Blagojevich because this funding is vital to helping improve the lives of local families.  With safer and more affordable housing, many families will be able to rebuild their lives and create a better future.  Our communities will also benefit as the rehabilitation of these homes will make the community more attractive to potential employers," State Representative John Bradley (D-Marion) said.

“By refurbishing these homes in Jefferson County, Gov. Blagojevich and I are helping meet the essential needs of our local residents and others across the region so that they can pursue the path of building a better tomorrow for themselves and their families,” State Representative Kurt Granberg (D-Centralia) said. 

“Making these critical investments in our communities will help us not only fix almost 100 homes throughout Southern Illinois, it will also improve our quality of life here, which is a very important ingredient to helping create better jobs.  Creating better economic opportunities is what the Governor and I are fighting for every single day,” State Representative Brandon Phelps (D-Harrisburg) said.
                                               
In 2005, the Governor’s 35-member Housing Task Force consisting of advocates, developers, lenders, and state agency representatives developed Building for Success: Illinois’ Comprehensive Housing Plan.  The plan was Illinois’ first statewide housing plan to strategically target spending earmarked for affordable housing at several state agencies to help six priority populations, including low-income families, seniors, people with disabilities, and those living in existing affordable housing that are in danger of becoming unaffordable.  The State’s two subsequent housing plans: On the Road to Success and Affordable Housing Dimensions build on the work of the first plan and highlight how the Governor’s vision is already reshaping affordable housing in Illinois.
Since 2003, the State has helped more than 40,000 low and moderate income families and individuals across Illinois become homebuyers, rehabilitate their homes and find affordable rental accommodation with more than $2.7 billion in financing.  Of these, 1,760 families and individuals live in the Southern region and received funding totaling $98.6 million.
                                                               
“Restoring economic opportunity at the local level involves strengthening education and workforce preparedness, improving local infrastructure, attracting investment and supporting the needs of small business. 
But it begins on a more basic level.  By improving nearly 100 homes throughout Southern Illinois, Gov. Blagojevich is strengthening the very core of these communities, giving this strategic economic development effort a better chance to succeed and these communities a better chance to thrive,” 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.