Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today announced that he will tour two small businesses in Bettendorf on MONDAY, April 23rd at 1:00pm.  Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and Loebsack will see firsthand the products and goods that are made and sold in Iowa.  Details of his visit are below.  Media is invited to attend.

 

"What I hear time and again from small business owners here in Iowa is the same thing I hear from students, parents and educators: We must build and make things here at home again," said Loebsack.  "I am excited to meet with the owners and employees of these businesses to hear firsthand their ideas for growing our economy."

 

Small Business Tour

 

Terrostar Technology Solutions and Medix

3565 Utica Ridge Road

Bettendorf

1:00pm

 

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Governor's Volunteer Service Awards Honor Service, Leadership

 

SPRINGFIELD - Thursday, April 19, 2012.  On behalf of Governor Pat Quinn, the Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service presented 24 Illinois residents with the Governor's Volunteer Service Award today during a reception at the Executive Mansion. The award recognizes volunteers who have made a difference in Illinois, and highlights the importance of volunteerism and community service.

 

"Every day in Illinois, thousands of volunteers donate their time and talents to help others and to build stronger communities," Governor Quinn said. "We honor these individuals who have made a difference in our state and set an example for others to follow with their initiative, creativity and energy."

 

The Governor's Volunteer Service Awards focus on five areas: economic opportunity, education, environmental conservation, disaster preparedness/response, health and veterans' affairs. Individual awards in each of the commission's five service regions (Northeast, Northwest, East Central, West Central and Southern Illinois) are presented in three categories: youth ages 18 and under, adult ages 19-54, and seniors ages 55 and older. Additionally, National Service Awards were presented to one Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve member in each region.

 

"Volunteerism is what makes life worth living, and I am proud to say that Illinois has a vast number of people that are working each day to improve all of our lives," Scott McFarland, acting executive director of Serve Illinois, said. "Through Serve Illinois, we hope to expand volunteerism throughout rural, suburban and urban Illinois, and involve people of all backgrounds, cultures and ages."

 

The Serve Illinois Commission is a 35-member, bipartisan board appointed by the Governor and administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services.  Its mission is to improve Illinois communities by enhancing traditional volunteer activities and supporting national service programs, including the Illinois AmeriCorps program. For more information, please visit www.Serve.Illinois.gov.

 

The following is a list of the 2012 Governor's Volunteer Service Award recipients. Recipient biographies can be found on Serve Illinois' website at www.Serve.Illinois.gov.

 

 

Southern Illinois Award Recipients

 

• Youth: Madelyn McGlynn - Belleville, Ill.
  For service to: Belleville Area Humane Society

 

• Adult: Kim Lingafelter - Albion, Ill.
  For service to: Hope Center and Southeastern Illinois

 

• Senior: Elmer Ragland - Waterloo, Ill.
  For service to: Lions Club

 

• AmeriCorps Member: Nathan Elwood - St. Louis, Mo.
  For service to: Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation

 

• Senior Corps Member: Lee Stowers - Mt. Vernon, Ill.
  For service to: One Hope United Foster Grandparent Program

 

East Central Illinois Award Recipients

 

• Youth: Mary Perkins - Effingham, Ill.
  For service to: University of Illinois Extension-Effingham County

 

• Adult: Teresa Haley - Springfield, Ill.
  For service to: NAACP

 

• Senior: Ellen Harms - Champaign, Ill.
  For service to: Daily Bread Soup Kitchen

 

• AmeriCorps Member: Jamie Hadley - Bloomington, Ill.
  For service to: McLean County Health Department

 

• Senior Corps Member: Jamie Storm - Springfield, Ill.
  For service to: Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center

 

West Central Illinois Award Recipients

 

• Adult: Lane Pfeiffer - Carlinville, Ill.
  For service to: Macoupin County Center for the Developmental Disabled; Carlinville Food Pantry;  Macoupin County Jail

 

 

• Senior: Bob Wiltz - Peoria, Ill.
  For service to: American Red Cross

 

• AmeriCorps Member: Karla Williams - Peoria, Ill.
  For service to: Children's Home Association of Illinois

 

• Senior Corps Member: Mike Faley - Peoria, Ill.
  For service to: OSF St. Francis Medical Center and Children's Hospital of Illinois

 

Northwest Illinois Award Recipients

 

• Youth: Alexis Ochoa - Rockford, Ill.
  For service to: Life Church

 

• Senior: Carole Perrin - Rockford, Ill.
  For service to: Carpenter's Place

 

• AmeriCorps Member: Leann Duncan - Rockton, Ill.
  For service to: Prairie State Legal Services

 

• Senior Corps Member: Steve Verdick - Carbon Cliff, Ill.
  For service to: RSVP of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois

 

Northeast Illinois Award Recipients

 

• Youth: Isha Jog - Schaumburg, Ill.
  For service to: D.A.R.E. American & Holiday Heroes

 

• Adult: Luciano Rodriguez - Naperville, Ill.
  For service to: People's Resource Center and St. Paul Lutheran Church

 

• Senior: Lou Ann Johnson - Crest Hill, Ill.
  For service to: National Hook-Up of Black Women, Inc.

 

• Learn and Serve Member: Howard Allen Jones, Jr. - Oak Park, Ill.
  For service to: National Alliance for Mental Illness-Greater Chicago

 

• AmeriCorps Member: Monica Gonzalez - Chicago, Ill.
  For service to: Centro Sin Fronteras

 

• Senior Corps Member: Linda Kielas - Inverness, Ill.
  For service to: Palatine Emergency Management Agency

 

 

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Washington, DC - Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17) today sent a letter to Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Secretary Ann L. Schneider, requesting information as to where on the Department's priority list the I-74 Bridge resides, the criteria being used to prioritize Illinois' infrastructure needs, and a meeting to discuss how the project can move forward.  

IDOT has confirmed that funding for its portion of the I-74 Bridge project's construction has not been set aside.  Further, recent reports indicate that the Iowa Department of Transportation, due to IDOT's lack of commitment to the project, is contemplating pulling back the funding they have secured, putting the Bridge's planned construction in Fiscal Year 2016 in jeopardy.

"I understand that Illinois received $1.475 billion in federal funds in Fiscal Year 2011, and that projects totaling millions of dollars around the state, especially in the Chicago area, continue to be funded." Schilling wrote.  "This suggests the state is capable of moving forward on projects it deems a priority; however it is hard to imagine a higher priority than a bridge that is functionally obsolete and handles 70,000 vehicle crossings per day when it was built for 48,000 such crossings.

"I understand that the planning processes between Illinois and Iowa are different.  However, in order for this project to come to fruition, a timeline is necessary for the respective Departments of Transportation, contractors, and the communities being impacted.  Because of these concerns I would appreciate an update on the current budget that IDOT has for the I-74 Bridge and the current shortfall on the project."

[Text of today's letter below]

Secretary Schneider,

Thank you for responding to my letter regarding the prioritization of the I-74 Bridge project.  I also appreciate that the I-74 Mississippi River Bridge was listed as a priority for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) through your fiscal year 2013 Illinois Federal Fiscal Year Priorities Book.  I strongly support this large project that will create construction jobs, reduce traffic backups, improve air quality, and relieve congestion, and I appreciate that you are working with Iowa towards its finalization.  This project will bring much needed safety to that river crossing.

I respectfully request to know specifically where on your priority list this vital project resides, as well as the criteria being used to determine these priorities.  Recent news reports suggest that Illinois might not have money programmed for the I-74 Bridge Project.  If accurate, this could result in the Iowa Department of Transportation retracting its portion of the project funding and applying it elsewhere.  This would add further uncertainty to the completion date of this project, which is on your priority list.  

Furthermore, I understand that Illinois received $1.475 billion in federal funds in Fiscal Year 2011, and that projects totaling millions of dollars around the state, especially in the Chicago area, continue to be funded.  This suggests the state is capable of moving forward on projects it deems a priority; however it is hard to imagine a higher priority than a bridge that is functionally obsolete and handles 70,000 vehicle crossings per day when it was built for 48,000 such crossings.

I understand that the planning processes between Illinois and Iowa are different.  However, in order for this project to come to fruition, a timeline is necessary for the respective Departments of Transportation, contractors, and the communities being impacted.  Because of these concerns I would appreciate an update on the current budget that IDOT has for the I-74 Bridge and the current shortfall on the project.  

I would also like to request a meeting to discuss how we can move forward together.  This bridge is an important addition to our local community, region, and state.  By working together we can ensure that the people of Illinois can safely have their needs met and encourage growth in our local and state economy.

Again, thank you for your time and consideration.  I will continue to advocate for a long-term transportation bill that will provide the certainty needed to most effectively build America's infrastructure.  I look forward to continuing our work to reinvest in the necessary infrastructure for our state to be safe and thrive.

Sincerely,
Bobby Schilling
Member of Congress

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Davenport Parks and Recreation is in the process of updating their Strategic Plan for 2020. The Strategic Plan 2020 summarizes key areas of the Parks and Recreation Department and the related measurements and benchmarks that will help it realize the expectations of the community.

 

In April 2010, the Parks and Recreation staff adopted the current Strategic Plan 2020, with the intention of updating it annually. A copy of the current Strategic Plan is available on the Parks and Recreation website.

 

At this meeting, friends groups and the public will be able to meet the Parks and Recreation management staff, and give their input on recreational programs, facility management and development, service delivery, and other areas of the Parks and Recreation Department.