Tech-talkin' Govs: State of the State and Budget Addresses

This is the final installment in this year's coverage of the Governors' State of the State and Budget Addresses highlighting issues of importance to the tech-based economic development community.



Illinois

George Ryan, State of the State/Budget Address and Supporting Press Materials, February 20, 2002

• Funds will be earmarked for a new post-genomics institute at the University of Illinois, a new chemical sciences building at UI's Chicago campus, a cancer research center at Southern Illinois University in Springfield, and a new facility for the treatment of juvenile diabetes at the University of Chicago.
• Continued support for a new biomedical research building and a nanotechnology center for Northwestern University.
• Citing a federal government commitment of $1 billion, a nearly $100 million per year operating budget, and employment of 400 highly skill engineers and scientists, the Governor calls for $13 million in support for the Rare Isotope Accelerator. Scientists at the Argonne National Laboratory in the Chicago area are trying to land the new research project that will advance physics and nuclear astrophysics to the next level of understanding.
• A new $5 million Digital Divide Elimination Fund to increase access to computers and 
  
  telecommunications technology for residents in low-income communities.

Key technology projects noted in the supporting press release include:

• $5 million for the Advanced Research Building at the University of Chicago;
• $17 million for the nanotechnology research institute at Argonne;
• $5 million for the Biomedical Research Building at the Illinois Institute of Technology;
• $15 million for a grant to Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center for the Bohn Bio-Medical Research Building 
• $10 million to fund the Energy Efficiency Investment Fund which supports development of technologies that use wind, solar, and biomass power.