Governor Quinn Opens Critical Roadway To Major New Community Development

$4.6 Million Investment Created 300 Construction Jobs; Supports more than 1,400 Additional Jobs When Pullman Park Development Opens

CHICAGO - February 18, 2013. As part of his commitment to create jobs and support economic growth, Governor Pat Quinn was joined today by community and business leaders to reopen a critical roadway to the Pullman Park development on Chicago's South Side. Funded by a $4.6 million investment through the federal "IKE" Disaster Recovery Program, construction of the new road created 300 construction jobs. An additional 400 construction and 1,000 permanent retail jobs are expected when the Pullman Park development is completed.

"Today is a great day for everyone who lives and works in Pullman Park," Governor Quinn said. "Infrastructure improvements like this support communities as they grow by putting people back to work and laying the foundation for economic development for years to come."

The state's award helped fund road and infrastructure improvements to Woodlawn/Doty Avenue between 103rd Street and 106th Street, parts of which have deteriorated since flooding in 2008. The project includes incorporate sewer and water main improvements that will help prevent damage from future flooding.

The retail phase of the project is currently underway and will be anchored by Wal-Mart, Ross Dress for Less and Planet Fitness. The new Wal-Mart store will provide grocery services to an area currently classified as a "food desert" for its inaccessibility to fresh foods. Other plans for the 180-acre, mixed use development include affordable housing and park and recreation space.

"The reconstruction of this section of Doty Avenue represents an important step forward in the recovery and transformation of Pullman," David Doig, president of Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives said. "Without the vital contribution made by the state of Illinois, this milestone would be extremely difficult to achieve in today's challenging economic environment. We thank Governor Quinn for his dedication to economic growth and job creation, particularly in underserved communities like Pullman."

The project's economic development assistance comes from the state's IKE-Disaster Recovery Program named for Hurricane Ike, the 2008 disaster that ranks among the costliest hurricanes to make landfall in the United States. Illinois received a total of $193.7 million in federal disaster funds under the program to aid communities in 41 Illinois counties.

"The investments we're making through the IKE program are providing much needed relief in communities throughout the state by helping address limitations to economic growth and future recovery," DCEO Acting Director Adam Pollet said.

The IKE-ED program is part of the governor's continuing commitment to providing essential resources for Illinois' small and mid-sized communities as they strengthen their economies. Projects approved for IKE-Economic Development assistance support both permanent and construction job creation through funding improvements to local infrastructure, company equipment costs and other assistance that will attract or support private companies in locating or remaining in an affected area.

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CHICAGO - February 15, 2013. Governor Pat Quinn today joined President Obama at Hyde Park Academy to discuss the need to strengthen the middle class and prevent gun violence. The president laid out a bold agenda during his State of the Union address to drive job creation and economic growth, close the skills gap, raise the federal minimum wage and protect public safety. Governor Quinn laid out many proposals last week during his State of the State address consistent with the President's agenda.

"I strongly support the president's mission to strengthen the middle class and protect the people of our state and country," Governor Quinn said. "We must all be committed to driving economic growth in Illinois and making sure that gun violence does not threaten our children's bright futures. I look forward to working together across party lines in the coming months to find common-sense, common ground to make Illinois more prosperous."

Last week in his State of the State address, Governor Quinn laid out an ambitious agenda to put people back to work and strengthen the Illinois economy. He announced a partnership between the state, the University of Illinois and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications to create the Illinois Manufacturing Lab, which will help better equip Illinois' workforce and make manufacturers in our state more competitive. The governor also proposed raising the minimum wage in Illinois to, at least, $10 an hour over the next four years to reduce poverty and increase local consumer spending. He also called for continued investment in transportation and public works, to create jobs and pave the way for more economic growth.

In addition, the governor addressed the need to end gun violence in Illinois by calling for a ban on the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines, as well as mental health reporting and common-sense public safety legislation that includes stronger background checks and new requirements to report lost and stolen guns. Governor Quinn also called for marriage equality to make Illinois a more welcoming place for all people. Yesterday, marriage equality legislation passed the Illinois Senate.

Once Impoverished U.S.S.R. Immigrant  Thrives through Stubborn Recession

4 Recession-Proof Tips from Rags-to-Riches CEO

Today, millions of Americans are suffering hardship due to the toughest economic downturn since the Great Depression 80 years ago. Unemployment remains critically high, near 8 percent, even though companies and the stock market are doing very well.

But the challenges Americans on Main Street continue to face pale in comparison to those endured by Daniel Milstein, who immigrated to the United States as a teenager from Kiev, Ukraine, during the last days of the USSR's control of the Eastern Bloc.

"Everything was different; the food, the clothing and even the new English alphabet I was to learn, which has 26 letters instead of the 33 that I was used to," says Milstein, author of "17 Cents and a Dream," (www.danmilstein.com). "My family was allowed to leave with only one suitcase and $75 each - plus I had 17 cents for the postage necessary to send a letter to my friend in Ukraine."

Impoverished, confused, feeling like an outsider and unable to speak English, Milstein did what he knew best - hard work. He would start by studying relentlessly and picking up every shift he could at the local McDonalds. Eventually, he received his bachelor's degree with Cum Laude honors in business management and Honorary Doctorate Degree from Cleary University. Dan Milstein became the founder and CEO of Gold Star Financial, the 42nd largest residential lender in the country.

Milstein and his company have continued to thrive throughout the recession, thanks in part to the lessons he learned as an immigrant. He offers these tips for making yourself recession-proof:

• Land of opportunity: Despite his disadvantage, Milstein was able to see the positives and the opportunities -- he was, after all, in America, where individual effort and initiative could be rewarded. Americans have the freedom to pursue a gamut of jobs; accepting those that require little skill may not pay well, but as long as you continue to educate yourself, they can be viewed as a steppingstone.

• Good, old-fashioned hard work: Like many of America's previous generations, including those from the Great Depression, nothing was given to Milstein, who sometimes worked from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. at McDonalds as a teenager. Even though he's on top of his company, "I still work harder than anyone else," he says. He also makes sure he knows each of his employees and clients, and that they're happy.

• Understanding the culture of your environment: Even while in Kiev, Milstein and his family were outsiders because of their Jewish heritage. There, he had to understand the culture and adapt, just as he did when he came to the United States. It can be challenging to recognize when cultural tendencies that you've grown up with clash with those in an adopted culture, but Milstein paid attention. When he realized that his brusque, Soviet way of doing business was turning off his U.S. customers, he worked on being warmer, friendlier, and a better listener.

• Listen to your elders: Milstein's mother taught him to always work five times harder than everyone else because "being Jewish, it will always be an uphill battle." His grandfather told him to guard his name and his reputation - "the only things you have in this world" and that he could become whatever he wanted, provided he was willing to work for it. As an adult, built found a mentor in an older business woman. One of the most valuable lessons she taught him was to "slow down and chew my food" - to take the time to enjoy life.

"Certain things can be taken away from you in your life - the recession has proved this true for many people," Milstein says. "But there are also characteristics and personality traits that can be yours, unbroken by other people or shifting circumstances, for the rest of your life."

About Daniel Milstein

Daniel Milstein came to the United States with a handful of change as a teenager and eventually founded Gold Star Financial, which in 2009 was listed as one of Inc. Magazine's 500 Fastest Growing Companies. Born in Kiev, Ukraine, Milstein endured an oppressive government in the U.S.S.R., religious persecution and life-and-death situations, including living in the fallout of Chernobyl, the deadliest nuclear meltdown in human history. He worked his way from scrubbing toilets at a McDonald's restaurant to running one of the fastest growing financial firms in the United States.