Governor Quinn announces $31 million for construction projects in Cook County

The following news release comes from the Office of Governor Pat Quinnby about his announcement regarding Cook County construction projects.

Governor Pat Quinn today announced capital investments of more than $31 million for construction projects in Cook County. The investments will create jobs and improve transportation safety and efficiency.Funded by hisIllinois Jobs Now!construction program, the projects are part of Governor Quinns agenda to create jobs and drive Illinois economy forward.

These investments in Cook County are putting people to work, creating jobs that will help drive the local economy, Governor Quinn said. They are also helping to repair and maintain Illinois infrastructure to improve safety and efficiency throughout the region.

Governor Quinn continues to fight for working men and women who have built Illinois infrastructure through their hard work, dedication, and calloused hands, Tom Villanova, President of Chicago & Cook County Building & Construction Trades Council, said. UnderIllinois Jobs Now!,thousands of Chicagoans have been put to work to improve Illinoiss infrastructure for coming generations.

Todays announcement follows last weeks news that Illinois unemployment rate declined in July to 6.8 percent from Junes 7.1 percent. During July, 11,200 new private sector jobs were added, including 3,900 manufacturing jobs.The states unemployment rate has fallen steadily since July 2013, when it stood at 9.2 percent, and has completed its steepest 12-month decline of 2.4 percentage points since August 1984. Since February 2010, Illinois has added 263,100 private sector jobs.

Construction payrolls are up by 8,500 jobs since the beginning of the year, nearly four times as strong as the gain posted for this same period in 2013. Specialty trade contractors payrolls posted healthy gains for the third straight month, fueled in large part by Governor QuinnsIllinois Jobs Now!capital construction program.

The projects below will be managed by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The projects are part of Governor Quinns $31 billionIllinois Jobs Now!program, which will support more than 439,000 jobs over six years.Illinois Jobs Now!is the largest construction program in Illinois history, and is one of the largest construction programs in the nation.

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Governor Quinn announces $31 million for construction projects in Cook County