MOLINE/QUAD CITIES -- Bruce Carter, Director of Aviation for the Quad City International Airport (QCIA) accepted an award yesterday at the Illinois Aviation Conference in St. Charles, Illinois, for "Illinois Primary Airport of the Year."  The award was presented by Dr. Susan Shea, Director, Division of Aeronautics.  The Quad City International Airport was selected out of all airports in the State of Illinois.

Many recent accomplishments led to the QCIA being selected.  Dr. Susan Shea says "The Division of Aeronautics enjoys a fantastic working relationship with the Quad City International Airport.  The Runway 9/27 Reconstruction / Taxiway P project was a complex, multi-year endeavor that required an incredible level of communication and coordination.  The success of this project is a perfect example of our longstanding partnership with QCIA and would not have been possible without the cooperation of Director Carter and his dedicated staff."

"It's a very exciting time to be accepting this award," says Bruce Carter, Director of Aviation.  We would not have received this award if it wasn't for the hard work of all of the MAA employees, the airport authority board members, and all of the tenants.  The partnership we have with the Division of Aeronautics and the FAA is critical to the infrastructure improvements we have made over the last several years, and months," Carter adds.

The QCIA was presented with this same award in April, 1999, and 2004.  The Quad City International Airport currently offers service through four major airlines to ten nonstop cities.  Airlines include Allegiant, American Eagle, Delta Air Lines, and United Express. The Quad City International Airport strives to make travel easier for all of its customers.                        ###    

WASHINGTON, May 24, 2012 – A top USDA Rural Development official this week met with local leaders and business owners in the Midwest to highlight rural small business accomplishments and observe "National Small Business Week".

"We know that to build a strong foundation for our country, we must continue to invest in rural communities and small businesses that create new economic opportunities for those who call rural America home," said John Padalino, Acting Administrator of USDA Rural Development's Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS). "We've seen continued growth in rural business development and the Obama Administration will continue working to strengthen local economies throughout the country."

Padalino met this week with business leaders in Iowa and South Dakota and highlighted ways RBS business and cooperative programs help improve rural economic conditions by providing guaranteed loans and development grants for projects that help create and save jobs.

Nationally, from 2009 through 2011, RBS provided 12,214 guaranteed loans, direct loans and grants that assisted more than 50,000 businesses and helped create or save more than 266,000 jobs.

For example, Morris Manufacturing and Sales Corporation, a family-owned automotive parts manufacturer, had to lay off 100 of its 135 employees when two major automakers closed down production and reorganized. With the assistance from USDA Rural Development, Morris Manufacturing located in Brazil, Ind. secured four B&I loan guarantees totaling $10.2 million, which it used to restructure debt and purchase new equipment. As a direct result of these loans, the company rehired its laid off workers, built a new production facility, expanded its product line, and hired over 60 new employees.

The Montana Wagyu Cattle Company is a family-owned and operated business that raises cattle and provides USDA Grade-A beef and specialty beef products to restaurants, stores, and consumers throughout the region. In 2009, the company used their $49,900 Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) to grow and expand their business by selling products over the internet.

Today, the company sells and ships custom-ordered cuts of beef (steaks, roasts, and specialty cuts) to consumers and businesses all over the United States.

In 2010, Ecotrust of Portland, Oregon, used their $249,340 Rural Business Opportunity Grant to market their FoodHub internet website - an online directory and marketplace that connects regional farmers, grocers, restaurants, and wholesales - to food producers and buyers. The FoodHub website helps agricultural producers tap into the growing local foods market by shortening the supply chain between producers, sellers, and consumers. The RBOG will also be used to provide training and assistance to businesses that want to sell through the website.

In June 2010, 550 companies used FoodHub. Today, almost 3,600 businesses in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and California use FoodHub to market their products.

Since taking office, President Obama's Administration has taken historic steps to improve the lives of rural Americans, put people back to work and build thriving economies in rural communities. From proposing the American Jobs Act to establishing the first-ever White House Rural Council - chaired by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack - the President is committed to using Federal resources more efficiently to foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural communities.

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a national network of state and local offices. Rural Development has an active portfolio of more than $165 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers, and to improve the quality of life in rural areas.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

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Simon welcomes new JALC president, calls for budget reform to protect education funding

 

CARTERVILLE - May 24, 2012. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon welcomed incoming John A. Logan College President Mike Dreith on Thursday and urged lawmakers to make pension and Medicaid reforms that will protect higher education funding.

 

Without major changes, health care for the poor and retirement benefits for public employees will continue to eat up more of the state's general revenue dollars, squeezing out funding for education, law enforcement and other expenses, Simon said prior to a public reception for Dreith alongside retiring JALC President Bob Mees.

 

"Runaway Medicaid and pension costs could squeeze out education funding if major reforms are not enacted this spring," said Simon, who serves as Governor Quinn's point person on education reform. "When President Dreith takes over on July 1, we want John A. Logan College to know its state dollars will be paid on time and in full so its students receive the best education possible."

 

Fast-growing public pension and Medicaid costs could eat up 50 percent of state general revenue spending in FY2014 without major reforms. That could limit the state's ability to fund education and public safety, threaten the state's credit rating and hurt the long-term sustainability of the health care and retirement systems, Simon said. On Monday, legislation supported by Governor Quinn was filed to restructure Illinois' Medicaid system.

 

"The state's budget crisis must be resolved, with input from educators across the state, to maintain and improve the quality of higher education in Illinois," said Mees, who will retire from the JALC presidency on June 30.

 

Students who qualify for state tuition assistance, whether they pay to study microbiology or welding, could also feel the squeeze, Simon said. In the past decade, the buying power of the state's Monetary Award Program (MAP) has fallen from covering the full tuition and fees at public community colleges and universities, to covering about half. For every student who received partial assistance from MAP this year, another qualified applicant was denied due to lack of funds.

 

"We need to invest in students and schools if we expect to reach our state's big goal: 60 percent of our working-age adults holding a degree or certificate by 2025," Simon said.  "It's time to put politics aside and work together on budget reforms that will put Illinois on solid financial footing for years to come."

Families are gearing up for Memorial Day vacations over the next few days, the good news for travelers is that oil prices are falling. Gasoline prices have dipped below $4 a gallon. Headlines across the nation are optimistic, but it's not time to start celebrating yet. Gas prices are still higher than they have to be.

Heritage expert Nick Loris says that both Congress and the administration have failed to act constructively to remove obstacles that would allow the market to respond more effectively to high oil prices and there are a number of things they can still be doing.