Public Act 96-35
"The best social policy ever devised is a good job."
"You can get a lot done if you don’t worry who gets the credit."
When Gov. Pat Quinn took office on January 29, 2009, Illinois was in an economic crisis and the condition of its infrastructure was in dire need of repair and replacement. The state had not invested in a capital construction program in 10 years.
On July 13, 2009, Gov. Quinn signed Illinois Jobs Now! (Public Act 96-35), a $31 billion capital construction plan -- the largest in Illinois history. The program was designed to create thousands of jobs and invest in infrastructure projects across the state.
In six years, Illinois built and repaired nearly 9,000 miles of roads and 1,475 bridges and invested $3 billion to build, repair, and replace schools across Illinois.
More than 400,000 jobs were created by Illinois Jobs Now! which also included investment in rail and public transit, grade separations, housing, water projects, port improvements, dam safety, military facilities, broadband deployment, and high speed rail from Chicago to St. Louis.
On July 13, 2009, Gov. Quinn signed Illinois Jobs Now!, the largest capital construction plan in Illinois history. It was the largest capital construction plan in the nation at the time. The program was designed to create jobs and invest in infrastructure projects across Illinois. In six years, Illinois built and repaired nearly 9,000 miles of roadway and 1,475 bridges.
Illinois Jobs Now! included $3 billion statewide for the school construction program, with 20% going to Chicago Public Schools, Illinois’ most populated school district. The funds helped upgrade, repair, or replace schools across the state.
It also helped provide more than 2,000 units of permanent supportive housing for persons with disabilities or special needs.
View the Governor’s Office Press Release of Quinn Announcing $24.1 Million for Route 13 and Wolf Creek Road Interchange in Crainville.
View the Governor’s Office Press Release of Quinn Opening Railroad Spur to Mount Vernon's Continental Tire .
View the Governor’s Office Press Release of Quinn Announcing Continental Tires the Americas Investing $224 Million to Expand Illinois Facility.
View the Governor’s Office Press Release of Ryan Using High Tech To Open Brookfield Zoo's Salt Creek Exhibit .
View the Governor’s Office Press Release of Quinn Rededicating Historic Lincoln Hall at University of Illinois on Building’s 100th Anniversary.
View the Governor’s Office Press Release of Quinn Announcing $11.5 Million for Bridge Construction Project in Galesburg.
View the Governor’s Office Press Release of Quinn Opening Long-Needed Interchange.