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July, 2009

INFRASTRUCTURE ISN’T JUST ROADS AND BRIDGES; GET THE COMPETITIVE EDGE AND GET THE BID!

In this Issue:

    WATER DELIVERY SYSTEMS AND WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT ARE ISSUES RECEIVING ATTENTION AND ARRA MONEY
    GET THE COMPETITIVE EDGE AND GET THE BID! FIND OUT HOW, ON ILLINOIS WORKNET.

WATER DELIVERY SYSTEMS AND WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT ARE ISSUES RECEIVING ATTENTION AND ARRA MONEY


Recovery dollars are funding EPA water projects in Illinois. Cleaner water and a boost to businesses should follow.

In the rush to accumulate portfolios and build McMansions, some communities in the United States fell behind in providing necessities such as potable water and sufficient wastewater management. In some other communities, prosperity took the by-pass and drinking water is what comes off the roof or out of a polluted reservoir.
The demand for water in Illinois and most other states will continue to increase.
In February of this year, an article in TheSouthern.com External link opens in a new window quoted a water expert who urged citizens not to take water supplies for granted. A 2006 DNR water supply study showed that water demands in Illinois are to increase from 36 to 69 percent while supplies are predicted to grow at a much slower rate. 

The Illinois State Water Survey External link opens in a new windowlists nitrate, sulfur, coliform bacteria, lead, pesticide, and arsenic as the most common water pollutants. Recently, water supply experts added pharmaceuticals to the list External link opens in a new windowof drinking water pollutants.

In response to water management concerns and to the faltering economy, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, (ARRA) committed approximately $257 million to the Water Pollution Control Loan Program and the Public Water Supply Loan Program External link opens in a new window. Four Illinois communities are recipients External link opens in a new window of grants and loans, which will enable them to immediately begin waste and drinking water projects. The communities are: Pecatinica, Rockford, Dixon, and La Moille. It is expected that other communities will receive similar loans and grants in the near future.

The ARRA environmental infrastructure projects in Illinois and elsewhere should provide a boost to businesses in the selected communities and, hopefully, create wider positive ripple effects. Suppliers of products used in the projects should also see a boost in sales and services. There should still be many bidding possibilities for businesses who research the needs of the funded and proposed projects.

GET THE COMPETITIVE EDGE AND GET THE BID! FIND OUT HOW, ON ILLINOIS WORKNET.



Illinois businesses can obtain the competitive edge and get the bid by simply logging into Illinois workNet, Business Pathway. The Economic Recovery Page is available to help businesses find ARRA projects and information. The Economic Recovery Page includes:

• Links to the State of Illinois Recovery page External link opens in a new window, to quickly access information about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, (ARRA) and a list of state programs External link opens in a new windowthat will receive new support from the federal stimulus effort.
• A primary contact list for each of the 26 Local Workforce Investment Areas in Illinois for information about WIA Economic Recovery Programs.
• Search option to find a site where there are dedicated Business Services Team available to help.
• A 60 page document that provides an in-depth summary on "Bringing Home the Green Recovery".
• Information on federal business opportunities External link opens in a new window
• Help for businesses External link opens in a new windowseeking information on meet business objectives.

The ARRA projects not only provides businesses and suppliers with an economic boost, but also creates the opportunity to gain exposure by taking advantage of the free Business Branding Pages made available on the Key Sectors Pathway. 

The Business Branding feature allows Illinois businesses and associations to create their own branding pages. Branding pages are suited for any size business, from the largest employer to the entrepreneurial start-up. Each branding page offers several features that allow the business to create a visually-appealing, informative resource.

  1. First, branding pages follow the same design as the Key Sectors Pathway. Businesses select an industry template that matches the color scheme and format of the industry homepage on the Key Sectors Pathway.
  2. Second, branding pages offer visual details to attract attention and provide information: space for company logos and a Google map featuring the business's location.
  3. Third, the pages allow businesses to describe what they do and why they are a desirable place to work. They can promote upcoming events and career opportunities using promos that appear on screen.
  4. Lastly, businesses can add a series of web links to direct users to other websites of interest.

For more information, or to create your own Branding Page, please contact your local Business Service Teams today.

Location of 2009 Recovery Projects:

• Recovery.org tracks all ARRA projects in Illinois and the rest of the country External link opens in a new window

• EPA funded projects in Illinois External link opens in a new window

• ARRA funded water projects in Iowa External link opens in a new window

• Summery of fundable projects in California External link opens in a new window

Connecting businesses with water project dollars:

• Illinois Institutional Water Treatment Program website with links to bidding process information and other water quality information and assistance External link opens in a new window

• Water & Wastewater itemizes ARRA funded EPA awards External link opens in a new window

• Government provided site to help small businesses get contracts for their goods and services External link opens in a new window

• Search engine for bid and contract opportunities for state and federal projects External link opens in a new window

Additional resources on water related topics:

• The Midwest Technology Assistance Center for Small Public Water Systems provides answers to many water related questions External link opens in a new window

• Water Environment Federation provided job bank site connecting employers and job seekers in the area of water quality External link opens in a new window

• Stimulus funding resources from the Water Environment Federation External link opens in a new window 
 




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    Our Friday Job Fairs take place on a monthly basis from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm. Recruiters must register in advance to attend a Job Fair. There are several benefits inherent in the format of our Job Fairs. Diverse pool of job seekers -- At these events you will encounter everyone from customer service individuals to warehouse workers to high-end technical and executive level people. Mixture of industries/companies -- We arrange for a blend of industries and companies to be represented at each event in order to limit the amount of competition your recruiters encounter from the other recruiters in attendance. Smaller, more intimate setting -- We limit these events to ten companies because we feel that both the job seekers and recruiters benefit from the more personalized environment. Promotion -- These events are promoted externally among various job seeker groups, schools, associations, etc. Once your company registers for a Friday Job Fair, we find out what types of jobs you will be recruiting for, and we advertise at locations we believe will yield appropriate candidates. We also advertise online at the Illinois workNet web portal and the workNet DuPage website. Companies that have participated in our Friday Job Fairs include: TEC Services Consulting, Fellowes, Inc., Sikich Corp., General Mills, FedEx, Forster Tool & Manufacturing, Sentinel Technologies, Jiffy Lube, Schneider National, BP, and Hyatt Lisle.

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    People's Resource Center
    PRC Meeting Our Community's Needs.....Neighbor to Neighbor
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  • DuPage PADS
    dupage pads DuPage PADS is a non-profit agncy committed to end and prevent homelessness in DuPage County by providing safe and hospitable housing solutions, support and advocacy for men, women, and children who are homeless.  Click here to be directed to our website. External link opens in a new window(opens a new page)

  • Statewide Interest
    Economic Recovery Resources
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    To learn about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), and identify projects being funded with taxpayer money, look for this emblem throughout Illinois workNet and on the internet.

    Learn more about the ARRA External link opens in a new window

  • IL Department of Transportation - Economic Recovery Information

    The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) includes $48 billion for transportation infrastructure consisting of highways and bridges, mass transit, rail and aviation.

    The transportation system in Illinois is at a crossroads, and is in need of the additional federal funds provided by the ARRA. ARRA funds will be utilized to support safer transportation systems, address environmental concerns, offset the erosion of the construction dollar, address the crippling levels of congestion/delay and meet the transportation demands of the future.

    In order to access the first half of the highway stimulus funds coming to Illinois, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has identified projects that can be awarded quickly to put people to work in the construction industry and to utilize the upcoming construction season. While the list of projects is larger than expected in the first wave of funding, it will allow Illinois to be in a position to spend any funds redistributed from other states.

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    Is Your Business Positioned to Grow?
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    Visit the IEN website External link opens in a new window today.

  • Looking for the Official Business Link to the U.S. Government?
    Business.gov logo Business.gov provides quick and easy access to business laws, government regulations, forms and agency contacts.

    Visit the Business.gov External link opens in a new windowwebsite today.

  • Low Income Energy Efficient Residential Retrofit Program

    More than $213,000 in grants will help existing low-income homeowners replace items such as refrigerators, furnaces, lighting, dishwashers and air conditioners with energy-efficient models.

    Legislation approved last year created funding for programs and incentives through money from ComEd and Ameren to reduce electrical energy usage and demand by company customers.

    Click here External link opens in a new window to learn who is eligible and  how the process works.


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    Mentoring and Volunteerism as a Dropout Prevention Strategy
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    Businesses have an opportunity to get more personally involved in the lives of students in high poverty neighborhoods with failing schools to help end this crisis. 

    Learn more at the Tutor/Mentor Connection External link opens in a new window.

  • Register Your Company with Buy Illinois.Net
    Buy Illinois Logo The "Buy Illinois" initiative is a statewide series of regional trade fairs, procurement workshops and training programs designed to stimulate more in-state, business-to-business commerce and increase the self-sufficiency of the Illinois economy.

    Register your company at the Buy Illinois External link opens in a new windowwebsite.

  • The U.S. Economic Census
    U.S. Economic Census Logo The Economic Census profiles American business every 5 years, from the national to the local level. Detailed information provided by geographic area, zip code, and industry.

    Visit the U.S. Economic Census External link opens in a new windowto increase your knowledge of the business climate.

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