FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Steven Tomaszewski
June 14, 2006
618/344-3065; 618/322-9246

Washington, DC…..Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-19) is pleased to announce
federal funding for three projects in his district that were funded in a House passed
appropriations bill. The Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development,
the Judiciary, the District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies Appropriations
Act (HR 5576) funds many functions of government.

In that bill, that following projects were specifically funded:
+ St. Elmo Historical Society, $250,000, for conversion of a theater into a community
center. This project will continue the downtown revitalization in this small
community. The entire project cost is over $2 million.
+ Lawrenceville Mid American Airport, $250,000, for construction and rehabilitation
of a community center on airport property. The entire project cost is over $1.65 million.
+ Greenville Business Incubator, $250,000, for construction of a business incubator.
The City of Greenville would establish a business incubator in order to assist
start-up businesses with the guidance and direction an incubator can offer. The
total project cost is $1.8 million to purchase a building to house the incubator.

"These three projects provide each community with an opportunity to provide their
residents with a better living environment," Shimkus said. "The two community
centers will provide a gathering place for everyone in the community to enjoy and
utilize. The business incubator will help create jobs.

"Each project will still need the assistance of local funding in order to come to
fruition," he added. "Thus making this a real partnership bringing the community
closer together as these projects move forward."

This bill passed the House June 14 and now goes to the Senate for consideration.
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