Peoria, IL – (January 15, 2009) The Heartland Partnership and the Tri County Regional
Planning Commission have been gathering a list of regional infrastructure projects that
could benefit from President-elect Obama’s proposed infrastructure stimulus recovery
project. The goal is to have a list of potential projects ready when the new
administration gives the go ahead for the stimulus package.

The Heartland Partnership President and CE Jim McConoughey said this group has been
working to gather this list since early December. “This is an evolving project. As we
compile our list, Washington DC is compiling the criteria. This list enables us to have the
necessary information at our fingertips when it’s needed.”

The group released details on that list today at the Heartland Partnership Office. Over
two hundred projects were submitted from 41 municipalities in eight counties including
Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, Mason, Logan, Fulton, Marshall and Stark. The list includes
development, road, water, sewer, schools, and community projects.

McConoughey said the anticipated federal stimulus package is approximately $800
billion and as the President and Congress unfold the various components of the plan, it
will be important for our communities to decide what we consider success. This
stimulus package is about creating jobs in our communities and across the nation,
McConoughey said. “So if any project on this list receives funding it will mean jobs in
our community. And when people have jobs, they shop in local stores, they buy or rent
homes, and they pay taxes and contribute to the overall welfare of the community in a
variety of ways. So any project on this list that receives funding is a success for the
larger community.”

The next step is to get this list to our lawmakers. McConoughey will be traveling to
Washington DC and Springfield to deliver the list to the Illinois delegation in the coming
weeks. He went on to say that the work is not over, “We will continue to monitor the
rules and keep an eye on any changes that may affect projects in our region. If invited
to submit more detailed information on this list, we will do so. And if local project
leaders need assistance we will help them find it.”