Project: DeKalb/Sycamore Mentorship Program

Requested Amount: $17,688

Requestor: Best Buddies Illinois, 350 North Orleans Street, Suite 678, Chicago, IL 60654

These funds would support the mentoring programs of Best Buddies at Northern Illinois University, Sycamore High and Sycamore Middle Schools.  These programs enhance the lives of children and adults with intellectual disabilities by increasing their opportunities to gain meaningful employment.

Project: High School Technology Training

Requested Amount: $15,000

Requestor: Boys & Girls Clubs of Dundee Township, 425 Tulsa Ave, P.O. Box 173, Carpentersville, IL 60110

The funding for this program would allow some Teen Center Club Members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dundee Township to learn how to use and improve their computer skills as well as learning about hardware identification and installation, networking and technology-related careers.  Because college is not an option for all teens, this program will help these teens gain valuable skill sets that will make them more marketable to future employers, helping them to find jobs following High School graduation.

Project: Future Leaders Program

Requested Amount: $75,000

Requestor: Boys and Girls Club of Elgin, 355 Dundee Avenue, Elgin, IL 60120

This program for low-income middle school students would be applied to an after school program focused on reading assistance, financial literacy, homework assistance and for the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse.  The program will make a positive impact on at-risk area children, of which, 80 percent come from single family homes and 72 percent live below the poverty level.  By giving them these critical skills, the Boys and Girls Club helps these vulnerable children avoid the temptations of crime and gang activity.

Project: Campton Hills Police Mobile Patrol

Requested Amount: $25,000

Requestor: Campton Hills Police Mobile Patrol, 40W115 Campton Crossings Drive, Unit B, Campton Hills, IL 60175

This funding would be used to purchase five new Mobile Data Computers (MDC).  Five moving radar units would also be provided to each squad.  The Campton Hills Police Mobile Patrol currently operates with secondhand equipment, and this funding would both update existing equipment and ensure that every squad car has a MDC.  MDCs and radar units allow law enforcement to more efficiently control and enforce traffic violations, making area streets safer for constituents.

Project: Physician Referral Service

Requested Amount: $25,000

Requestor: Catholic Charities – Elgin, 40 DuPage Court, Suite 400, Elgin, IL 60120

These funds would be used by the Physician Referral Service to purchase new computers and printers, as well as for the recruitment of physician volunteers. The Service uses a computerized phone database to link doctors who will accept Medicaid for their services with Illinois Medicaid recipients.  Medicaid recipients can call this service for assistance.  By using this service, patients can avoid being turned away for care, preventing expensive emergency room visits that they cannot afford - costs that would be passed on to the taxpayer. 

Project: Eola Road Widening, Aurora, IL

Requested Amount: $3,000,000

Requestor: City of Aurora, 44 E. Downer Place, Aurora, IL 60507

These funds will support the reconstruction and widening of Eola Road from Montgomery Road (83^rd Street) to Keating Dr. (87^th Street).  Improvements will include road reconstruction and widening from two to four lanes, stormwater drainage improvements, intersection improvements, curbs and gutters and sidewalk installation.  The widening of this road will reduce the commuting time for working constituents, making them more effective employees.

Project: Ogden Avenue Grade Separation

Requested Amount: $4,000,000

Requestor: City of Aurora, 44 E. Downer Place, Aurora, IL 60507

This funding would aid in the initial phase of engineering for a grade separation at Ogden Avenue, which, because of the recent approval of Canadian National’s purchase of the EJ&E Railway, is a top priority due to the impending four-fold increase in traffic.  This traffic increase is also likely to significantly increase traffic congestion, further emphasizing the need for a grade separation.

Project: Substation Relocation and Revitalization

Requested Amount: $6,000,000

Requestor: City of Aurora, 44 E. Downer Place, Aurora, IL 60507

The funding would support the redevelopment of a major portion of downtown Aurora, which is part of the city’s overall redevelopment plan. The funding would also allow the city to work with a public utility company to clean a contaminated site beneath the electrical station, and the city would also utilize a much needed electrical infrastructure upgrade to serve area residents.  The project would improve and modernize the electric power delivery system, increasing the electrical reliability in the area while also helping to grow Aurora's economy.

Project: Street Pedestrian Signalization at Main St. & Millview Drive

Requested Amount: $550,000

Requestor: City of Batavia, 100 N. Island Ave., Batavia, IL, 60510

These funds support construction of an intersection with traffic and pedestrian signalization, specific pedestrian crossings and bicyclist accommodations.  This project will make the area safer for automobiles and pedestrians in the area.  Creating bike and pedestrian friendly areas are essential to encouraging excercise and healthy lifestyles,  increasing the quality of life of constituents and also helping to reduce health care costs.

Project: Drainage Upgrades, DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport, DeKalb, IL

Requested Amount: $1,462,500

Requestor: City of DeKalb, 200 S. 4^th Street, DeKalb, IL 60115

This funding is for the first phase of the airport’s drainage improvement project.  The project will include construction of a detention pond, as well as storm sewer piping to accommodate airport expansion activities.  These improvements will mitigate the impact of flooding on airport premises and nearby properties, helping homeowners to save money while also increasing the airport's efficiency.

Project: Multi-Use Pathway, Dixon, IL

Requested Amount: $1,200,000

Requestor: City of Dixon, P.O. Box 386, Dixon, IL 61021

These funds will support planned modifications to an existing abandoned railway pier structure which spans the Rock River in Dixon.  The project will rehabilitate an abandoned railroad trestle and contribute to the economic development of Dixon’s downtown area, helping to create jobs.

Project: Lindgren Road Realignment at Plank Road in Sycamore, IL (DeKalb County)

Requested Amount: $340,000

Requestor: City of Sycamore, Sycamore Center, 308 W. State St, Sycamore, IL, 60178

This funding will support the realignment of Lindgren Road, a city street, at Plank Road, a county highway.  This realignment would provide a safe intersection for school buses serving Sycamore’s newest elementary school as well as promoting the safety of area residents, making it easier and safer for local children to go to school. 

Project: Bob Leonard River Walk Construction, St. Charles, IL

Requested Amount: $225,000

Requestor: City of St. Charles, 2 East Main St., St. Charles, IL 60174

These funds will be used for phase 2 of construction for the river walk, consisting of the construction of bicycle/pedestrian path for residents and visitors in downtown St. Charles.  This project contributes to the St. Charles Downtown Plan and River Corridor Plan, as well as the Kane County Bike Plan.  The river walk’s construction will also contribute to the economic vitality of downtown St. Charles and provide community access to healthy outdoor activities for residents and visitors.

Project: Coltonville Bridge Replacement

Requested Amount: $2,132,000

Requestor: County of DeKalb, 200 North Main Street, Sycamore, IL 60178

Funding for this project will assist the county with removal and replacement of the existing three span concrete bridge structure on Coltonville Road.  The replacement structure will provide for three traffic lanes and will be located in a way that will accommodate current traffic on the bridge, as well as the anticipated traffic increases over the next ten years.

Project: Audiology Services

Requested Amount: $30,109

Requestor: Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region, 799 South McLean Boulevard, Elgin, IL 60123

This funding will support the purchase of new equipment, including an audiology booth, a specialized computer, an audiometer to evaluate hearing loss and a scanner to efficiently evaluate audiology results.  These purchases would allow for improved services for the approximately 650 infants, children and adults the Elgin Center serves annually.

Project: Health Careers Center of Excellence

Requested Amount: $205,000

Requestor: Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, IL 60123

These funds would contribute to the first phase of a major expansion project to evolve the college’s healthcare programs into a regional center of excellence in the education and training of those in the healthcare profession.  There is a shortfall in healthcare and allied health professionals, and this shortfall poses a threat to healthcare and emergency medical services in the area.  By creating a Health Careers Center of Excellence, additional well-educated healthcare professionals will be available to serve our area’s healthcare needs - especially as baby boomers age and face more health related issues.

Project: Elgin Police Car Video Recording Replacement

Requested Amount: $460,000

Requestor: Elgin Police Department, 151 Douglas Ave., Elgin, IL 60120

This funding would allow for the replacement of all video recorders in Elgin Police cars. This equipment has not been replaced for 8 years.  Video recorders allow law enforcement officers to capture unbiased court admissible evidence, assisting officers in obtaining convictions in a variety of court cases.  The equipment will also continue to assist officers with the gathering of intelligence on gang related crimes, making our communities safer by reducing crime.

Project: Glenwood West Learning Resource Program

Requested Amount: $300,000

Requestor: Glenwood School for Boys and Girls, West Campus, 41 W 400 Silver Glen Road, St. Charles, IL 60175

The residential education and life-skills programs at the Glenwood School provide safety, nurturing, structure and stability in an educational environment.  The funding would support the Learning Resource Program, which is designed to assess, evaluate and test all incoming students in order to create a one-on-one, customized educational program for each student. The school serves children from lower income, single-parent families, providing them with the opportunities needed to grow and succeed.  Currently, 90% of Glenwood students go on to institutions of higher education, and by funding this program, we can turn around the lives of vulnerable children, making them productive adults.

Project: Electronic Medical Record Solution

Requested Amount: $150,000

Requestor: Greater Elgin Family Care Center (GEFCC), 370 Summit Street, Elgin, IL 60120

To meet Elgin’s growing need for access to primary health care, GEFCC will soon be opening its walk-in clinic.  This additional site will increase the faxing and relocating of patient charts on a daily basis.  This funding would be used to create a medical record system, creating a safer and more efficient system to track patient records and information, reducing health care costs.

Project: Rural County Cancer Wellness Outreach

Requested Amount: $20,000

Requestor: Home of Hope of the Rock River Valley, 1637 Plock Road, Dixon, IL 61201

This project provides individual and family counseling, support, education and wellness services to those who have been affected by a cancer diagnosis in underserved rural areas.  This funding benefits the project by helping to pay staff salaries so the outreach and services can be completely available to community members touched by cancer.

Project: Hospice Patient Supply Delivery

Requested Amount: $25,000

Requestor: Hospice of the Rock River Valley, 264 IL Route 2, Dixon, IL 61021

This funding would be used to purchase a delivery vehicle for the organization, allowing for hospice employees to safely deliver and collect materials to and from patients, allowing those that face terminal diseases to be better served.

Project: Whiteside County, Illinois U.S. Highway 30 Four-Lane Project

Requested Amount: $880,000

Requestor: Illinois Department of Transportation, 2300 S. Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, IL 62164

The funding would complete the initial phases of engineering to widen U.S. Highway 30 between Fulton and Rock Falls.  The project will relieve congestion on the highway, reduce commutes, increase productivity and improve the safety for area residents and travelers along the route.

Project: Environmental Health Progress Project

Requested Amount: $24,760

Requestor: Kendall County Health Department, 811 W. John Street, Yorkville, IL 60560

These funds will allow the Health Department to implement an Information Technology platform for the inspections of wells, septic systems and restaurants.  Currently, all data is entered and gathered by hand.  As Kendall County continues to grow, this technology will allow for a more efficient system which will improve overall community services and will increase the safety of constituents by ensuring that tested water is clean and drinkable.

Project: Equipment for Aurora Early Learning Program

Requested Amount: $325,000

Requestor: Kids Hope United, 525 College Avenue, Aurora, IL 60506

The City of Aurora shows significant need for full-day early education and child care services, as only 31 percent of children in need are able to benefit from the current resources at the Aurora Early Learning Center.  This funding will support the purchase of equipment for the center’s early childhood initiative, allowing more children to receive early education and child care services, giving them the skills they need to become better learners in elementary school.

Project: John C. Dunham Planetarium at SciTech Museum

Requested Amount: $985,000

Requestor: SciTech Museum, 18 West Benton, Aurora, IL 60506

This funding would be used to help construct the John C. Dunham planetarium, which would be a state-of-the-art educational facility.  It will allow expert educators to deliver live science demonstrations and both world-class astrometric and video presentations for 150 students at a time.  In addition, the Planetarium will partner with area schools, many of which have many students from low-income families.  This partnership would foster an interest in science-related careers and provide educational opportunities in underprivileged communities, inspiring more students with the power of science.

Project: Northern Illinois Food Bank Distribution and Community Nutrition Center

Requested Amount: $1,000,000

Requestor: Northern Illinois Food Bank, 600 Industrial Drive, St. Charles, IL 60174

The funding will support construction of a new Food Distribution and Community Nutrition Center, because the current facility is no longer sufficient to meet the increasing demand for food assistance.  Aside from not being able to handle the increased demand, the current facility is in need of frequent repair.  A new facility will allow the Food Bank to better serve area residents living in poverty by allowing them to use their tax dollars more efficiently and effectively.

Project: Hadron Particle Therapy

Requested Amount: $5,000,000

Requestor: Northern Illinois University, 300 Altgeld Hall, DeKalb, IL 60115

Project: Mobility Services for Veterans Who Are Visually Impaired

Requested Amount: $2,500,000

Requestor: Northern Illinois University, 300 Altgeld Hall, DeKalb, IL 60115

Within the next five years, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will see approximately 80% of their staff currently working in the area of blindness and visual impairment retire.  This funding would support a proposed program to train rehabilitation teachers and orientation and mobility specialists to be employed by the VA to provide services for veterans who are visually impaired.  Many of the returning veterans from the wars in Afghanistan in Iraq have suffered eye damage, causing various levels of visual impairment.  This training provides our veterans with the care they deserve, and will give them the skills they need to secure employment and lead productive lives.

Project: Northern Illinois Proton Treatment and Research Center

Requested Amount: $9,500,000

Requestor: Northern Illinois University, 300 Altgeld Hall, DeKalb, IL 60115

Project: Unique Methodologies for Nano/Micro Manufacturing and Jobs Training for Nanotechnology

Requested Amount: $2,000,000

Requestor: Northern Illinois University, 300 Altgeld Hall, DeKalb, IL 60115

This funding would benefit a project that will educate both management and workers in the technical aspects of nanoscience and engineering in the context of application to current needs in manufacturing.  As in all major evolutions in manufacturing, creating the necessary tools is an essential element for success.  The proposed work will establish mechanisms for research and development with joint industrial collaborations in new product development, job creation, and the establishment of new businesses.  Only by funding initiatives like this can we truly harness the power of nanotech and ensure that our constituents can compete and win in a global economy.

Project: Pace Transit Infrastructure for Randall Road, Kane County, IL

Requested Amount: $960,000

Requestor: Pace, the suburban bus division of the Regional Transportation Authority, 550 W. Algonquin Rd., Arlington Heights, IL 60005

These funds will support improvements in transit infrastructure along Randall Road between Aurora and Elgin.  This corridor has been identified by Kane County as a candidate for future Bus Rapid Transit service.  The funding, an initial infrastructure investment, would make it easier for Kane County residents to use existing bus services while also shortening travel times for commuters and making the bus a more attractive commuter option while reducing the number of cars on the road, thus lessening our carbon footprint.

Project: Provena Health Electronic Medical Record (EMR) System

Requested Amount: $3,000,000

Requestor: Provena Mercy Medical, 1325 N Highland Ave, Aurora, IL 60506

This funding will be used to implement the computer hardware of Provena’s Electronic Medical Record system, connecting physicians in its numerous facilities throughout the community.  Electronic data exchange will lower costs, advance clinical decision support, increase population-based quality measurement and reporting capabilities, add messaging and online consultation capabilities, and will allow patients to have an online personal health record.

Project: Hesed House Comprehensive Homeless Resource Center

Requested Amount: $200,000

Requestor: Public Action to Deliver Shelter Inc. DBA Hesed House, 659 South River St, Aurora, IL 60506

This funding will be used to expand Hesed House into an additional facility, which will house the Comprehensive Resource Center.  This center will allow outside agencies to have offices on-site, enabling professionals to better serve guests.  On-site services for homeless persons are more effective than those located off-site because they eliminate both the need for transportation and long wait times for appointments.  By streamlining the services the most vulnerable are eligible to receive, we make the dollars serving them go further.

Project: Home Rehabilitation for Low-Income Homeowners

Requested Amount: $19,000

Requestor: Rebuilding Together Geneseo/Cambridge (RTGC), 219 W. Wells, P.O. Box 254, Geneseo, IL 61254

The funding would support project expansion to aid low-income homeowners including the elderly, persons with disabilities and families with children.  Rebuilding Together repairs and renovates homes of low-income occupants so that residents can remain in their homes and live in a healthy environment.

Project: Reagan Home Centennial Restoration Project

Requested Amount: $10,000

Requestor: Ronald Reagan Home Preservation Foundation, 816 South Hennepin Avenue, P.O. Box 816, Dixon, IL 61021

In preparation for expected national and international attention during the hundredth anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s birth in 2011, this funding is necessary to assure that the property entrusted to the foundation is maintained.  The restoration both prepares the site for additional visitors but extends the life of the buildings and grounds for years to come.

Project: Wind Technician Training Program

Requested Amount: $200,000

Requestor: Sauk Valley Community College, 173 IL Route 2, Dixon, IL 61021

To maximize the economic potential of wind power, the College has created a certificate program to train wind turbine technicians.  This funding would be used to train up to 64 workers over the next two years.

Project: Cortland Center Road/Somonauk Road Roundabout Installation, Cortland, IL

Requested Amount: $750,000

Requestor: Town of Cortland, 59 S. Somonauk Rd, P.O. Box 519, Cortland, IL 60112

This funding will help create a roundabout for an intersection that is experiencing traffic volume growth.  The intersection will also be the key for the development of a new central business district and civic campus for the town.  The project is designed to reduce excessive fuel consumption, and to also mitigate traffic safety concerns.

Project: Atkinson Sewer Treatment Screening Equipment Replacement

Requested Amount: $77,000

Requestor: Village of Atkinson, 107 West Main St, P.O. Box 614, Atkinson, IL 61235

These funds will allow the Village of Atkinson to replace the screening equipment at the sewer treatment plant, a replacement that has been mandated by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.  The replacement will ensure better sewer treatment and a safer work environment for the Village employees who are currently doing the screening by hand. 

Project: Cambridge Water Line Replacement and Extension

Requested Amount: $161,535

Requestor: Village of Cambridge, 123 West Exchange Street, Cambridge, IL 61238

This funding would allow for the replacement of the Cambridge water line.  The replacement would create increased water pressure to the area, minimizing fire damage and saving lives in the event of a fire.

Project: Elburn Waste Water Treatment Plant Standby Generator

Requested Amount: $272,351

Requestor: Village of Elburn, 301 E. North Street, Elburn, IL 60119

This funding will support the installation of an emergency generator to the existing Waste Water Treating Facility, which currently lacks emergency power generation.  The installation of such a generator would allow the facility to continuously pump waste water, which is important because failing to do so will result in sanitary sewage backups into the homes of residents, creating a public health hazard and causing thousands of dollars in damages.

Project: Village of North Aurora Police Digital Radio Interoperability

Requested Amount: $204,610

Requestor: Village of North Aurora, 25 E. State St, North Aurora, IL 60542

These funds would be used to purchase 35 radios for police use.  These radio purchases are vital to the Village’s ability to communicate with its emergency dispatch center in Aurora are essential to the safety of city residents and police officers.

Project: Oswego Water Well Rehabilitation and Redevelopment

Requested Amount: $110,000

Requestor: Village of Oswego, 100 Parkers Mill, Oswego, IL 60543

These funds would allow for the rehabilitation of Well #6 in Oswego.  This project is vital to the Village’s water system because without the rehabilitation, the well could stop functioning at any time during the coming year.

Project: Sublette Elevated Tank and Water Main Project

Requested Amount: $465,000

Requestor: Village of Sublette, 202 W. 1^st Street, P.O. Box 86, Sublette, IL 61367

Currently, the Village’s elevated water storage tank can no longer be effectively rehabilitated and must be replaced.  The funding will allow for the construction of interconnecting water mains, which will improve the flow and distribution of flow through the Village from the new tank.  Providing adequate flow and pressure to Village residents is a fundamental service and basic need of the community.

Project: Quiet Zones at EJ&E Grade Crossings, Wayne, IL

Requested Amount: $180,000

Requestor: Village of Wayne, 5N430 Railroad Street, Wayne, IL 60184

This funding will support the installation of quiet zones at the EJ&E railroad grade crossings at Army Trail and Smith Roads.  Single family residences are located at and on the approaches to these two crossings, and the construction of barrier medians at each crossing will improve traffic safety while reducing railroad noise and preserving home values.

Project: Health Facility for the Underserved

Requested Amount: $1,200,000

Requestor: Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of Fox Valley, 400 North Highland Avenue, Aurora, IL 60506

These funds will support the construction, renovation and purchase of equipment for VNA’s Aurora facility.  With this renovation, VNA will be able to provide at least 9,000 additional medical exams, 3,300 more dental exams, and 4,500 more counseling visits per year to a primarily underinsured, uninsured and low to moderate income population, thus reducing the cost to our health care system.

Project: Adult Transition Program

Amount Requested: $500,000

Requestor: Waubonsee Community College, Rt. 47 at Waubonsee Drive, Sugar Grove, IL 60554

These funds will be used to enhance Waubonsee’s adult education program to assist adult learners transitioning to postsecondary education.  The specialized adult program will assist those who are seeking to define or redefine their employment and academic goals, those who have been affected by economic turmoil, and those who are seeking to enter a new field to remain employed or to re-enter the workforce.  This program places a strong focus on basic skills development, job training and retraining and transition.  Only by job retraining initiatives like this can our workforce change with the times and gain the skills needed to succeed in this economy.

Project: Wayne Police Mobile Communications Upgrade

Requested Amount: $16,000

Requestor: Wayne Police Department, 5N430 Railroad Street, P.O. Box 532, Wayne, IL 60184

These funds would be used to replace mobile radio and squad car computer systems.  These changes are necessary because of changes in computer emergency dispatch equipment made by the Village’s dispatching agency and thus, with these funds, the citizens and police will have the technology needed to better fight crime.

Project: We Go Together for Kids Education Enrichment Program

Requested Amount: $300,000

Requestor: West Chicago Elementary School District 33, 312 E. Forest Ave, West Chicago, IL 60185

This funding will support school district enrichment services including violence and substance abuse prevention programs, after school and summer programming, academic supports during the school day, wellness promotion including nutrition education and fitness services, parenting education and parent literacy services.  The We Go Together for Kids program provides a holistic approach to solving the problems families face, and seeks to give both children and parents the skills they need to succeed.

Project: Family Literacy Preschool Program

Requested Amount: $195,000

Requestor: YWCA Elgin, 220 E. Chicago Street, Elgin, IL 60120

The Literacy Program offers a unique opportunity for children and parents to learn English and develop essential school-readiness skills.  A majority of the funding will be used for direct literacy services, and a portion will be used for project coordination and minor safety upgrades and repairs to the Preschool classroom to a safe learning environment.  By becoming literate, a major hurdle is removed from the lives of children and parents, increasing their chances for greater economic opportunities.