Around The District

Illinois

Illinois launches Recovery website

Governor Pat Quinn launched a website that was created to help ensure that Illinois takes full advantage of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act. Visit the new website at Recovery.Illinois.gov for the complete press release.

Indiana

Indiana is now home to Midwest's largest wind farm

After phase I of the Fowler Ridge Wind Farm in Benton County, Indiana is now fully operational. The first 400 megawatts of the project will generate enough carbon-free electricity to power approximately 120,000 average homes. Of the 400-megawatt facility, BP Wind Energy and Dominion are partners on approximately 300 megawatts being produced at what they call the largest wind farm in the Midwest. The two companies could expand the facility to a total of 750 megawatts in the future.

"The commercial operation of the Fowler Ridge I Wind Farm marks an important step for BP in helping Indiana increase its role as a provider of energy to support growing state and national demands. This wind farm will deliver over 1 billion kilowatt hours of clean, renewable electricity every year and brings new revenue streams to rural communities without impact on traditional farming and grazing practices. The cooperation of the landowners, county officials, contractors and sub-contractors has been the key to the success of this project" said John Graham, President, BP Wind Energy.

The article above was excerpted and can be found by visiting, www.insideindianabusiness.com.

Iowa

Iowa adds seven new "Main Street" communities

On May 18, 2009, Mike Tramontina, the Director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development announced the selection of 7 new Iowa communities for the Main Street Iowa program. These communities are Ames, Colfax, Fort Madison, and Manning who will participate in the traditional Main Street Program. In addition, commercial districts in Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and Des Moines will become part of Iowa's new Urban Neighborhood District Program. This will bring the total Main Street communities in Iowa to 47.

The Director stated that, "For more than 20 years, Main Street Iowa has been looked upon as one of the premier downtown revitalization programs in the nation."

The National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, D.C, a non-profit organization working for community revitalization and history preservation, owns the trademark for the phrase "Main Street" as it applies to revitalization and historic programs. In addition, the National Trust allows local, regional, state, and citywide organizations to use the name "Main Street" to describe program that meet certain established and published guidelines.

Director Tramontina added that, "Over the years, by working together with the state, Main Street Iowa Communities have realized the benefits of more than 1.6 million hours of volunteer time committed to improving their city centers, a significantly increased job and business base, and millions of dollars in private investment to purchase, construct and rehabilitate downtown property."

The preceding article was excerpted from Iowa Downtown Summit 2009 at www.iowalifechanging.com.

Michigan

Granholm announces 10 Promise Zone designations in communities across Michigan

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has named the 10 Promise Zones, which are being established to expand opportunities for students to attend college and help transform communities in the process. The purpose of a Promise Zone is to support local efforts to promise a college education to K-12 students who reside within the zone .

For more information, go to http://www.michigan.gov/.

Treasury enhances CD program

The Michigan Department of Treasury has extended its Certificate of Deposit Stimulus Program indefinitely and enhanced the program options in response to the continuing national financial crisis. The department has added an additional 24-month term CD option. This program is designed to provide banks and credit unions with additional funds so that they in turn can provide economic stimulus to their communities through loans to Michigan businesses and consumers.

For more information, go to www.michigan.gov.

Wisconsin

Priority recovery and reinvestment aid for high-poverty communities

On February 26, Alan Berube, Senior Fellow and Research Director of the Brookings Institution's Metropolitan Policy Program, presented an overview of The Enduring Challenge of Concentrated Poverty in America: Case Studies from Communities Across the U.S., a joint project of the Brookings Institution and the Federal Reserve System's Community Affairs Offices.

Mr. Berube included a brief look at high, medium and low-priority items in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act from the perspective of high-poverty neighborhoods. High-priority aid to individuals would include increased tax credits and food stamp benefits and expanded unemployment insurance. High-priority aid to governments, firms and non-profits would include capital for public housing and expansion of head start.

Click here to view the slides from Mr. Berube's presentation.

You can also access The Enduring Challenge of Concentrated Poverty in America at http://www.frbsf.org/