CHICAGO – Continuing to deliver on his Opportunity Returns pledge to support new technology investment, Gov. Rod Blagojevich today announced a $40,000 grant to the Bi-State Regional Commission to help the interstate metropolitan area develop a strategic plan to improve access to communication technology.  Recognizing that state-of-the-art communication technology for local governments, households and businesses is a critical component of an effective economic growth strategy, Gov. Blagojevich is providing the funding to perform a study that will identify ways to increase access to vital communication technology throughout the area, including broadband services. 

“Access to communication technology often goes hand-in-hand with access to economic opportunity.  Our goal is to provide businesses in the Northwest region with all the tools they need to increase their productivity and competitiveness in this global economy, and high-quality communication infrastructure is certainly one of those key tools.  By supporting solution-driven initiatives such as this one which map out a course of action to overcome pressing local challenges, we’re unleashing the collective economic potential of this entire region,” Gov. Blagojevich said. 

The study’s analysis will include information relating to household, business and local governments demand for broadband and advanced telecommunication services and the identification of new strategies to boost usage within all sectors of the Illinois Quad City area, including:

• Assessing the current communication technology available in the Quad City area;
• Identifying the level of utilization of communication technology by residential and business stakeholders;
• Identifying locations within the area that lack desired technology service;
• Identifying the future needs of businesses and residences taking into account the Illinois Quad City Unified Growth strategy; and
• Providing a strategic planning document that identifies ways to improve access to state-of-the-art communication technology in the Quad City area.

“By working to ensure that technology and communication resources are available to the community, Gov. Blagojevich and I are helping local business meet today’s demands and stay competitive.  This is a great investment in the economic vitality of this area and will help lay the foundation for future growth,” State Senator Mike Jacobs (D-East Moline) said.

One of the ongoing, key initiatives of the Governor’s Opportunity Returns strategy for the Northwest region is expanding access to broadband services.  To help accomplish this, the Governor established a task force in partnership with the Illinois Commerce Commission to identify gaps in broadband service and pinpoint the barriers to its expansion.

“Fast and reliable communication technology is a key component of our local infrastructure, and quality infrastructure is absolutely vital to attracting investment and positioning our community to meet the challenges of the 21st Century economy.  This is another savvy investment by Gov. Blagojevich that will pay dividends over the near and long term,” State Representative Patrick Verschoore (D-Rock Island) said.

“We all know that fiscal resources are very limited right now, but Gov. Blagojevich and I believe that we can accomplish more with less by forming innovative partnerships and leveraging resources at the local level to address key regional challenges.  This partnership to identify ways to improve access to communication technology is a great example of that vision at work in the community,” State Representative Mike Boland (D-Moline) said.

The $40,000 in grant funding is coming from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and will be matched by participating local governments, including Rock Island County and the cities of East Moline, Milan, Rock Island and Silvis.

“Communities without access to cutting-edge technology, including communication technology, are at a real disadvantage when it comes to keeping up with the pace of business.  By supporting this important study, Gov. Blagojevich is making another key investment at the grassroots level that will help build a bridge to a more competitive business climate offering more widespread economic opportunity to the people of this region,” DCEO Director Jack Lavin said.

Gov. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the most comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois’ history.  Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn’t work, the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions – each with a regional team that is empowered and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges.  Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses.  It is about upgrading the skills of the local workforce, increasing the access to capital, opening new markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs.  Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach its economic potential.