Economic Impact Expected to Generate More Than 1,100 Jobs,  More Than $200 Million in Annual Local Investment

 THOMSON, IL- October 2, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn and Senator Dick Durbin today announced that the Obama administration and the Federal Bureau of Prisons will purchase the underutilized, state-of-the-art maximum security Thomson Correctional Center to house federal criminal offenders. More than 1,100 jobs are expected to be generated once the facility is fully operational.

"This is excellent news that will create more than 1,100 jobs in northwestern Illinois and provide relief to taxpayers across the state who will no longer be forced to pay for an empty, unnecessary facility," Governor Quinn said. "I want to thank President Obama and Senator Durbin for their strong support throughout this process. We look forward to Thomson being a fully operational facility that will drive major economic growth in the region in the near future."

"At the direction of President Obama, the Department of Justice, on behalf of the federal Bureau of Prisons, filed paperwork today in the federal courthouse in Rockford, to finalize the $165 million transfer of Thomson to the federal system," said Senator Durbin.  "This historic action will lead to the creation of hundreds of construction jobs and over 1,000 permanent jobs at this federal facility.  After facing a political standoff in the House of Representatives, I went directly to the President and asked him to take this action. The President knows the Quad Cities and the critical need for good-paying jobs in this part of the state.  I want to thank Mayor Hebeler and the people of Thomson. This was his idea and they've patiently waited for over a decade for this day to come. This Mayor never gave up - I have the voice mails to prove it."

The Department of Justice, on behalf of the federal Bureau of Prisons, today filed documents in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Rockford to acquire Thomson Correctional Center at a price of $165 million, which falls between two federal appraisals. This court-guided process will benefit the taxpayers of Illinois, while ensuring that the facility is used appropriately. The cost of building the prison was $128.8 million. If the prison had continued to sit empty, it would cost the state more than $800,000 annually, and $60 million annually if it were to operate at full capacity.

The federal government's operation of Thomson will provide a major boost to the local economy and create more than 1,100 jobs. Annual operation of the facility is expected to generate more than $122 million in operating expenditures (including salaries), $19 million in labor income, and $61 million in local business sales.

The Thomson facility was built in 2001 by the State of Illinois as a state-of-the-art, maximum-security prison to house the most severe criminal offenders. The bulk of the facility was never occupied, however, and is sitting vacant. The facility was constructed on a 146-acre piece of land and has 1,600 beds with eight compartmentalized units designed for maximum inmate supervision and control. The facility is enclosed by a 12-foot exterior fence and 15-foot interior fence, which includes a dual sided electric stun fence.

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(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad today named the large conference room in honor of former Iowa Governor Robert D. Ray.

Ray, who is celebrating his 84th birthday today, joined the governor and family members for a brief ceremony marking the occasion. The conference room is where the governor and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold their weekly news conferences, and serves as an important meeting room for policy discussions.

"Gov. Robert Ray was a phenomenal governor and a true statesman," said Branstad, who served as Ray's lieutenant governor from 1979-1983. "I wanted to honor Gov. Ray's accomplishments in a fitting manner, and given this is such an important room with a high public visibility, this is a fitting tribute to his service."

Gov. Ray's official portrait, pictured here with Govs. Branstad and Ray, will hang in the conference room.

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Funding Helps Localities Create, Maintain 1,500 Jobs

Kansas City, KS - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded Iowa $1,278,637 in grants to help public and assisted housing residents connect with local services to obtain education and training to find jobs.  The funding allows these local grantees to retain or hire 1,500 service coordinators to work directly with HUD-assisted families to connect them to the supportive services that meet their individual needs to become gainfully employed.

IOWA

"This funding ultimately links individuals to childcare, computer access, job training and other basic skills individuals need to compete for jobs that pay a living wage," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "To continue to grow America's economy, we must see to it that every American has the skills and resources they need to become gainfully employed."

"These grants are a win for both the grantee and Iowa families who participate in HUD rental assistance programs," said Regional Administrator Derrith Watchman-Moore.  The grantee can keep or can hire an employee whose job is to help hundreds of individuals here find employment."

The funding announced today includes $15 million through the Public Housing-Family Self-Sufficiency Program (PH-FSS); and $60 million through the Housing Choice Voucher- Family Self-Sufficiency Program (HCV-FSS).

The service coordinators, retained or hired through both of these programs, work directly with residents to connect them with local organizations that provide education and job training and placement opportunities; as well as childcare, counseling, transportation and computer and financial literacy services available in their community.  Both programs encourage innovative strategies that link public housing and Housing Choice Voucher assistance with other resources to enable participating families to find employment; increase earned income; reduce or eliminate the need for rental and/or welfare assistance; and make progress toward achieving economic independence and housing self-sufficiency.

Participants in both programs sign a five-year contract that requires the head of the household to obtain employment and no longer receive welfare assistance at the end of the five-year term. As the family's income rises, a portion of that increased income is deposited in an interest-bearing escrow account. If the family successfully completes its FSS contract, the family receives the escrow funds that it can use for any purpose, including paying educational expenses, starting a business or paying debts.

The Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program is a long-standing resource for increasing economic security and self-sufficiency among participants.  HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research issued Evaluation of FSS Program: Prospective Study in 2011 that evaluated the effectiveness of the FSS Program. Conducted from 2005 to 2009, the study showed that financial benefits are substantial for participants who remain and complete the program. This study is the second of a three-part series that evaluates the effects of the FSS program.

The first study found individuals who participated in the FSS program fared better financially than those who did not enroll in the program.  PD&R is currently working on a follow-up evaluation to the Prospective Study that tracks the outcomes of people who were still enrolled in the program at the end of the study.  The third and final study looks at the effectiveness of the FSS program nationally. This will be the first national study of the FSS program and is part of HUD's Transformation Initiative that uses metrics and research to evaluate programs and gauge performance to encourage more transparency and accountability within the agency.

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and  transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and  http://espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on twitter @HUDnews, on facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv 

CARBONDALE - Lt. Governor Sheila Simon will celebrate Constitution Week on Friday by delivering a "Courtroom in the Classroom" presentation to students at Carbondale Community High School, one of a series of presentations sponsored by the Illinois Judges Association across the state.

Simon, along with Judge Carolyn Smoot, Judge Christy Solverson and Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier, will mark the 225th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution by discussing U.S. Supreme Court case New Jersey v. T.L.O. with Carbondale students.

The 1985 case involved a female student caught smoking in the school bathroom. The principal searched her purse and found marijuana, paraphernalia and money, implicating the student in drug dealing. The student claimed the search violated her 4th Amendment rights, but the court held that the search was reasonable.

"Civic engagement is the cornerstone of our democracy, and it is important for students to see how the judicial and executive branches of government impact their lives," said Simon, a former Jackson County prosecutor.

DATE: Friday, September 21

TIME: 8:15 a.m.

PLACE: Carbondale Community High School auditorium, 1301 East Walnut Street, Carbondale

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