Includes Reappointments of Illinois Gaming Board Chairman and Vice-Chairman; New Appointments to Two State University Boards

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today made a number of key appointments to the state's boards and commissions. Included in today's action are the reappointments of Judge Aaron Jaffe, Chairman of the Illinois Gaming Board and Michael Holewinski, Vice-Chairman of the Illinois Gaming Board. This announcement continues the Governor's commitment to making Illinois government more accountable, transparent and effective.

"These individuals are committed to serving the people of Illinois on our state boards and commissions," Governor Quinn said. "I am confident these capable people will help make our state an even better place to live and work."

"Just as it is critical to protect the public interest, it is also critical to have strong oversight of casino gambling in Illinois," the Governor added. "The Illinois Gaming Board has served as a strong watchdog for the last two decades and both Judge Jaffe and Mr. Holewinski have done a fine job. I am confident that in their positions they will continue keeping corruption out of the Illinois gambling industry."

As a result of Governor Quinn's efforts to make the executive appointment process more accessible and transparent, residents who are interested in serving on boards and commissions can now apply online.

Appointments made today by the Governor include :

Council on Aging:

Talat Khan of Darien is a Research Investigator at Veterans Administration and holds a Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University and a M.S. and B.S. from Osmania University.

Illinois Arts Council:

Shirley Madigan of Chicago has served on the Illinois Arts Council since 1976 and has been Chairman for more than 20 years. Ms. Madigan actively represents the Council to arts organizations, individual artists, government officials, educators and the business and philanthropy communities. Ms. Madigan has a B.A. from Gonzaga University and a master's degree in education from Loyola University.

Chicago State University Board of Trustees:

Nikki Zollar of Chicago is the president and CEO of Triad Consulting Services, Inc. and also the president of SafeSpeed, LLC. Ms. Zollar is a former Director of the Illinois Department of Financial Regulation and holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. from The John Hopkins University.

Illinois Gaming Board:

Michael Holewinski of Chicago has been reappointed as the Vice-Chairman of the Illinois Gaming Board. Mr. Holewinski is the president of Ace Industries and is a former Illinois State Representative. He is also the chairman of the Illinois Manufacturer's Association and is a member of the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition. Mr. Holewinski holds a J.D. from the John Marshall Law School.

Judge Aaron Jaffe of Evanston, who has chaired the Illinois Gaming Board since 2005, has been reappointed to Chairman of the Board. Under Judge Jaffe's leadership, the board has increased openness and transparency in the gaming industry, notably revoking the 10th casino gaming license in order to rebid the license through a fair and open process. He has consistently led efforts to hold entities that violate gaming regulations accountable. Judge Jaffe holds a J.D. from DePaul University.

Lottery Control Board:

Paul Schaefer (reappointment) of Edwardsville is a field director for United Food and Commercial Workers Local 881 and holds a B.A. from the University of Evansville.

Pollution Control Board:

Deanna Glosser (reappointment) of Riverton is the former president of Environmental Planning Solutions, Inc. and currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance. Ms. Glosser holds a B.S. from Illinois State University and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois.

Prisoner Review Board:

Vonetta Rush of Swansea is a program coordinator for East St. Louis School District 189 and holds a M.A. from Lindenwood University a M.A. from Webster University, a M.P.A. and a B.S. from Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville.

Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees:

Joel Sambursky of Carbondale is a graduate of Southern Illinois University and a president of Liberty Wealth Management, LLC. He is currently on the Board of Directors for the Carbondale Community Arts and is a former president and executive director of the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Sambursky -  Southern Illinois University's quarterback from 2002-2005 - was inducted into the Saluki Hall of Fame in 2012 for having led the Salukis to three straight football conference championships and appearances at the NCAA National Playoffs. Mr. Sambursky holds a MBA and B.S. from Southern Illinois University.

For more information on all of the state's boards and commissions, or to apply to serve on a board, please visit Appointments.Illinois.gov.

Hope Manor II Apartments will Connect Residents with Services Needed to Live Independently

CHICAGO - Governor Quinn today was joined by the Volunteers of America of Illinois to break ground on the Hope Manor II Apartments - one of the first large-scale housing developments in the nation designed to address the needs of Veterans with families at risk of homelessness. This announcement is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to make Illinois the most Veterans-friendly state in the nation and ensure servicemembers have the support they need when they return home

"We have a duty to provide Illinois Veterans with the support they deserve after serving our country," Governor Quinn said. "Veterans often return to a unique set of challenges during the transition to civilian life, and this new community will address their family needs during this time. We must always take care of our Veterans on the home front, just as they have taken care of us."

Under Governor Quinn's leadership, the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) provided an $800,000 loan to finance the development located at 60th and Halsted streets in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood. The campus-style community will feature a mix of single-family town homes and apartments built around a park, all located on a three-acre site donated by the city of Chicago.

Developed by the Volunteers of America, Hope Manor II Apartments also received a $190,000 Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) grant, as well as a $1.9 million federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program loan and a $3 million tax-increment financing grant from the city of Chicago. Alderman JoAnn Thomson of the 16th Ward donated the property to build Hope Manor II.

"We are so excited to once again partner with IHDA to bring an important resource to our nation's Veterans," Volunteers of America of Illinois President & CEO Nancy Hughes Moyer said. "Hope Manor II will serve an increasingly vulnerable population of Veterans - younger Veterans with families, many of whom are women with young children. These brave young men and women have sacrificed a great deal to serve our country and they deserve a safe and affordable place to call home when they return. Hope Manor II will provide our Veterans with the stability and support they need to successfully reintegrate back into civilian life."

The new community will provide 73 units of permanent supportive housing in studio, one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments. Residents will have access to employment readiness classes, job training and coaching, computer training, a business resource center, a health and wellness center, peer support groups, recovery groups, individual and family counseling, mental health screening, case management support, and access to the Volunteers of America of Illinois' True North Project which aids Veterans who are struggling, in crisis or at risk of serious instability in their lives.

The development is the second phase of the Volunteers of America's Hope Manor Project. IHDA was proud to provide federal stimulus funds and federal tax credit financing for Hope Manor Apartments, which celebrated its grand opening in May 2012 in East Garfield Park. Hope Manor provides housing and services to single Veterans. A community to serve families is the appropriate next step.

An estimated 1,147 Veterans experienced homelessness on a given night in Illinois in 2012, or 15 percent of all Veterans in the general population, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Women Veterans are the fastest growing demographic in the Veteran community in Illinois and many face significant obstacles upon their return to civilian life. They are often younger than their male colleagues, have different healthcare needs, face the highest rate of unemployment in the Veteran population, and access Veteran services and resources less often.

Under Governor Quinn's leadership, Illinois has responded to the need for affordable housing and supportive services. Approximately 1,800 community-based supportive housing units have been financed across Illinois since 2009. IHDA financed 466 units of safe, affordable housing and 289 supportive housing units specifically targeted to Veterans in that same timeframe.

The first phase of construction is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2013, with a final completion date of June 2014. To qualify, residents must be at or below 60 percent of the area median income, or $35,340 for a two-person household. All 73 units will be supported by project-based vouchers from the Chicago Housing Authority.

###

Tax Filing and Payment Deadlines Pushed to October 31, 2013

PEORIA - Governor Pat Quinn today announced that Illinois businesses and individuals who file monthly, quarterly or annual returns and have been impacted by the flooding will have until Oct. 31 to file tax returns that were due on or after April 19. The extended deadline will provide much-needed relief for individuals and local businesses trying to file their returns or payments on time while recovering from the flood.

"Families and businesses across Illinois need time to focus on rebuilding their businesses, homes and lives," Governor Quinn said. "Once families have recovered, they can pull together the necessary paperwork to file and pay their taxes."

Taxpayers who opt to mail their deferred returns and payments should write Flood - April 2013 on the outside of the envelope in red ink and on the top of each page of the tax filing, so the account can be updated and handled appropriately. Filers using My Tax Illinois or WebFile will be provided instructions when they file their returns so that no late fees or penalties will be billed to their accounts.  For questions, the Illinois Department of Revenue has set up a mailbox dedicated to the flood issue: REV.FloodApr2013@illinois.gov.

"While we encourage individuals and businesses to bring their tax filings up to date as soon as their lives return to normal, we hope this deferred payment option is helpful to Illinois families and businesses," Revenue Director Brian Hamer said.

The tax relief will help individuals and local businesses, such as hardware stores struggling to meet customer needs while cleaning up after the flood; they will be able to focus on their customers and will have extra time to file and pay the sales taxes they collect. Individuals and businesses who normally file quarterly returns won't have the pressure to file those returns or payments while trying to recover from the flood. Distributors driving through flooded streets to get motor fuel to gas stations will have extra time to pay the taxes they owe.

Since Thursday, Governor Quinn has surveyed damage on the ground and from the air and met with local officials in some of the hardest hit communities, including Elmhurst, Des Plaines, River Forest, Bellwood, Riverside, Moline, Quincy, Bartonville, North Aurora, Marseilles, Ottawa, North Utica, Morris and Meredosia.

Personnel from FEMA, IEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and local emergency management agencies will begin assessing damage to homes and businesses in Cook, DuPage and Lake Counties on April 29. The teams will move to other affected counties as floodwaters recede so they are able to accurately assess the damage. Governor Quinn has declared a total of 44 counties state disaster areas.

Counties included in the state disaster declaration are Adams, Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Champaign, Cook, DeKalb, Douglas, DuPage, Fulton, Greene, Grundy, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jersey, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kendall, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, Mercer, Morgan, Ogle, Peoria, Pike, Putnam, Rock Island, Schuyler, Scott, Stark, Tazewell, Whiteside, Will, Winnebago and Woodford.

The state disaster declaration makes available a wide variety of state resources that can help affected communities respond and recover from flooding. It came after assessments by emergency officials and the governor, and begins the process of securing federal relief.

As of today, the state has fulfilled more than 140 requests for assistance from counties including:

Department of Transportation

• More than 240 IDOT personnel and 160 trucks and equipment have been deployed to deliver sandbags, plastic, pumps, hoses, trucks and drivers to communities and assist with debris removal.
• Conducting flyovers of flooded areas for situational awareness.
• Providing guidance to communities on pumping equipment needs.

Department of Corrections

• Nearly 570 offenders have filled and placed sandbags in several communities, logging more than 5,700 hours.
• More than 1,140 offenders at IDOC correctional facilities have worked around the clock to fill more than 140,000 sandbags since April 19.

Department of Natural Resources

• DNR boats and conservation police officers have assisted with home and medical evacuations, transportation, river rescues, missing person searches and other flood-related responses.

Illinois Emergency Management Agency

• Provided 40 StarCom radios to the Algonquin Police Department for emergency communications.
• Deployed liaison teams to coordinate response efforts along the Mississippi River.
• Coordinating requests for assistance from affected counties with state resources.

Illinois National Guard

• UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and two crew members assisted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with overflight of the Des Plaines and Little Calumet Rivers to survey integrity of flood control systems and infrastructure.

Illinois State Police

• Continue to assist motorists and local public safety agencies with flood-related issues.

Department of Public Health

• Provided information on tetanus shots to local public health departments, hospitals and medical offices.
• Arranged for the delivery of seven port-a-potties to support workers at two sandbagging sites.
• Monitoring situations at nursing homes and long-term care facilities affected by flooding.

Department of Central Management Services

• Procured sandbags, plastic and work gloves to support local sandbagging operations.

Governor Quinn activated the State Incident Response Center on Thursday to coordinate the deployment of state personnel and assets to assist local governments in the affected areas. The state's flood response is coordinated by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

Plan Will Improve 2,142 Miles of Highway, Replace or Rehabilitate 517 Bridges and Make Major Investments in Public Transit

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider to unveil a six-year, $12.62 billion construction program that will improve roads and bridges throughout Illinois while making major investments in public transportation. The projects are part of Governor Quinn's agenda to create jobs and drive Illinois' economy forward, while updating the state's transportation system. The upcoming highway, public transit, rail and airport projects will address critical infrastructure needs while making major transportation improvements throughout the state.

"Illinois is the transportation hub of the nation, and this program will ensure we have the modern infrastructure needed to compete with the world," Governor Quinn said. "This major investment in roads, bridges and public transportation will drive economic growth in every part of Illinois, and create tens of thousands of jobs."

The fiscal years 2014-2019 highway improvement program will improve 2,142 miles of highway, and replace or rehabilitate 517 bridges across Illinois. The plan includes $475 million to reconstruct the Circle Interchange in Chicago; $56 million to repair and upgrade I-74 in eastern Illinois; $83 million to resurface and replace bridges on I-57 in Marion, Pulaski, Union, Johnson and Williamson Counties; $76.2 million for a new Mississippi River bridge in Moline (in cooperation with the State of Iowa); and $40.4 million to resurface and repair bridges along Interstate 55 in Logan County.

"These projects will make our entire transportation system safer, easier, more efficient, and ready to accommodate our current and future needs," Secretary Schneider said. "But they come with another benefit - the fact that we will employ thousands of Illinois men and women, and support numerous Illinois businesses, while construction is underway."

For fiscal year 2014, the program has allocated $2.24 billion for road projects, $128 million for public transportation, $224 million for rail and $68 million for airport improvements. The total allocations for the multi-year program are $9.53 billion for roads, $1.81 billion for public transportation, $1.121 billion for rail and $159 million for airports.

The plan includes $7.2 billion in anticipated federal funds, $1.9 billion in state funds and the remainder from local and other sources. Additional bond authorization will be required to continue funding these transportation projects. The $580 million remaining for road and bridge projects from Governor Quinn's Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program is also included in this multi-year program.

Projects that are part of the fiscal years 2014-2019 program will begin after July 1 this year. Governor Quinn and Secretary Schneider last month announced $486 million in road and bridge projects that will begin this spring is one of the largest early-season construction programs in the state's history.

Many of the projects announced today are funded through legislation Governor Quinn championed in his State of the State address earlier this year. Of those projects, IDOT is offering contractors a reimbursement rate of $10 an hour for hiring graduates of the Highway Construction Careers Training Program, an IDOT-sponsored initiative to encourage women and minorities to pursue careers in the transportation construction industry.

The multi-year transportation program builds upon the success of Governor Quinn's $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! program, which is supporting more than 439,000 jobs over six years. It is the largest capital construction program in Illinois history, and is one of the largest capital construction programs in the nation. Prior to its passage by the Illinois General Assembly in 2009, Illinois had gone nearly a decade without a major program to address its critical infrastructure needs.

More information on the construction program may be found at http://www.dot.il.gov/opp/hip1419/hwyimprov.htm.