University News
Governor Announces More Funding For WIU-Quad Cities Initiatives
October 22, 2003
MACOMB, IL - - Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich today (Oct. 22) announced funding for Western Illinois Universitys Quad Cities campus as part of the states Northwest Economic Development plan.
The Governor said in addition to the $200,000 included in the current fiscal year budget for the WIU-Quad Cities expansion, $600,000 will be made available for architectural and engineering costs to renovate the former Deere and Company tech center on the Moline riverfront and $300,000 will be provided to support six faculty positions to expand Western course offerings in the Quad Cities.
Last April Western received a donation from Deere and Company of the former tech center and 20 acres of land to create a WIU-Quad Cities Riverfront campus. Western currently serves more than 1,400 students at its facility in Moline and through programs at the Quad Cities Graduate Center.
Western Illinois University President Al Goldfarb attended the Governors announcement in Moline and released the following statement:
Western Illinois University is pleased that Governor Blagojevich has announced his support of additional financial resources to expand Western Illinois University programs and services in the Quad Cities.
The need for additional public higher education services to be offered by Western Illinois University has been recommended in the recent Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce study. The support of the local community has been demonstrated through the generous Deere and Company gift of a Riverfront campus facility and site for an expanded Western Illinois University campus.
Additional state resources to expand Westerns programs and services will contribute to the economic development of this region as outlined in Governor Blagojevichs message. The Governors visit to the Quad Cities and his comments are especially gratifying given the states challenging financial climate.
For the University to meet the Quad Cities need for affordable public higher education in a timely fashion it is essential that additional resources be released to the University soon, so we can move forward with plans for the renovation of the facility and the addition of faculty and staff to offer programs and services. We are pleased that the governor has recognized our need and look forward to the release of the funds. We want to thank the governor and Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for their support, and we promise to help with the economic renewal in the Quad Cities.
State of Illinois webpage - - www.illinois.gov/gov.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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