Grant to help fund Ferrell Hospital expansion
ELDORADO -- Eldorado Mayor Rocky James says he's excited about a recent grant that will help pay for infrastructure improvements necessary for the expansion and renovation of Ferrell Hospital.
James said he received a phone call from state Sen. Dale Fowler, R-Harrisburg, informing him that the Delta Regional Authority will provide more than $200,000 toward relocation of water and sewer mains prior to the Ferrell Hospital project.
"We've been working on that for quite a while, trying to get it," James said. "We're really pleased and happy we received it."
The grant is for $206,000, and the total cost of the water/sewer main relocation is $524,917. The city will cover the remainder of the cost for now, and be reimbursed by Ferrell Hospital upon completion.
James had kind words for Fowler and former state Rep. Brandon Phelps, who also had worked to obtain the grant funding from DRA for the project.
"We appreciate all the help that Dale has given us, and we appreciated Brandon's work on our behalf when he was still in office," James said.
James also said he's confident Phelps' replacement, state Rep. Natalie Phelps-Finnie, an Eldorado native, cousin to Brandon Phelps and daughter of former U.S. Rep. David Phelps, will be able to help Eldorado.
The area of the water/sewer project is in the areas of Maple, Glenwood and Grant streets, and is considered a critical component of the hospital modernization project.
The Eldorado grant is part of a package of DRA grant funding announced Tuesday by DRA, Gov. Bruce Rauner and their federal and local-based partners. A total of $1.4 million in new DRA investments to strengthen Illinois' infrastructure, workforce, and economy were announced. DRA's investments will support public and private partnerships and bring a total of $22.7 million in new investments to Illinois, according to the organization.
"The State of Illinois is proud to partner with the Delta Regional Authority in job creation, business development and infrastructure improvements," Gov. Rauner said. "DRA investments help us ensure that all Illinoisans have the best quality of life possible and access to high-quality, good paying jobs right here in Illinois."
The investments were made through the DRA States' Economic Development Assistance Program, the agency's main federal funding program that invests in basic public infrastructure, transportation infrastructure and workforce development projects.
"This funding will boost communities across Illinois in their mission to spur job growth and create greater economic stability," U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin said. "I will continue working alongside the Delta Regional Authority to ensure Illinois' communities have access to the critical federal resources they need to thrive."
"This funding won't just help improve the roads and water mains in Southern Illinois, it will also help support local business development, create jobs and modernize health care infrastructure," U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth said. "I'm proud to announce these much-needed infrastructure investments to support hardworking families in Southern Illinois and I'll keep working to improve our infrastructure and transportation systems in every corner of the state."
Illinois is one of eight states to receive DRA investments. The agency's total investments in the Mississippi River Delta Region and Black Belt of Alabama will reach $20 million in 2017. With contributions from public and private partners, total investments will be $231.6 million.