Christmas has come early to the Quad Cities. Today, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn came to town to announce the state will provide low interest loans to both Moline and Rock Island for major upgrades to their water and sewer systems.
During a stop at a wastewater treatment plant in Moline, he said the two projects, costing a total of $54 million, will create nearly 500 jobs.
“These are investments. It will help us today, it will help us for years to come because businesses, the first thing they ask is they want to make sure you have quality water and water resources and waste water treatment.”
The governor says since he announced a Clean Water Initiative two years ago, the state of Illinois has helped more than 800 communities finance similar projects.
Greg Swanson, Utilities General Manager for Moline, says his city will spend $44 million to re-build and modernize one of its two treatment plants. And financing the project through the state will save Moline $8.5 million in interest.
Rock Island will use an $11 million loan to re-build water and sewer lines along one of its major streets for 18 blocks.