CHICAGO – In his continuing efforts to promote environmentally-friendly ways of growing the local economy, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced an Opportunity Returns grant for more than $27,000 to the Village of Bellwood that will help the community implement a new recycling program. The recycling grant is administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and comes as a part of Opportunity Returns, Gov. Blagojevich's pro-active, regional economic development strategy designed to create jobs and spur growth in Northeast Illinois.
“Growing our economy in a way that helps our environment can be accomplished by investing in companies and communities that are expanding the local recycling industry. By supporting this grassroots effort to launch an innovative recycling program in Bellwood, we are lessening the demand on local landfills and supporting the creation of more jobs for our working families,” Gov. Blagojevich said.
The Village of Bellwood has been awarded a $27,300 grant to implement a recycling collection program for all multi-family residents. Recycling collection carts will be placed at all 1,002 multi-family dwellings in Bellwood, thus providing recycling opportunities for 3,000 residents who currently do not have access to recycling. For additional information please contact: Tonita LeShore - 708-547-3500 x611.
“While this recycling grant will help minimize the negative impact we as consumers have on the environment, it will also play an instrumental role in strengthening an industry that has proven to be a great source of job creation and economic productivity in the region. Gov. Blagojevich continues to make the kind of investments at the community level that matter most,” said State Senator Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood).
“This grant will not only allow us to greatly increase local recycling efforts, but expand markets for a very important industry in our state and strengthen its capacity to create more jobs and continue making a positive impact on the regional economy,” said State Rep. Karen Yarbrough (D-Broadview).
“Gov. Blagojevich understands that strategically investing in recycling is both an environmentally and economically sound decision. This is helping to turn what could have become our trash into a reusable commodity that is spurring private investment and putting more and more people to work. These types of progressive partnerships are what Opportunity Returns is all about,” DCEO Director Jack Lavin said.
Gov. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the most aggressive, 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.