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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - (RealEstateRama) -- Momentum in the housing market continued into September with Illinois home sales increasing 19.8 percent over previous-year levels and median prices rising 12.9 percent, according to the Illinois Association of REALTORS

ELGIN - October 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Pat Quinn joined FER-PAL Construction officials today to open the water main rehabilitation company’s new U.S. headquarters in Elgin, creating 50 new jobs. Governor Quinn’s personal involvement helped convince the firm to choose Illinois. This announcement is part of Governor Quinn’s agenda to drive Illinois’ economy forward and protect the environment by modernizing water infrastructure

CHICAGO - October 14, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Pat Quinn today joined students, parents and community leaders to highlight an upcoming school improvement project made possible through the Illinois Green Infrastructure Grant (IGIG) program. Ravenswood Elementary School was among 13 applicants that received funding from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to support projects that reduce the amount of pollution running into Illinois waterways from stormwater sources and reduce the risk of local flooding. The announcement is part of Governor Quinn’s agenda to protect our natural resources and ensure a clean and healthy environment for future generations.

CHICAGO - October 7, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by thousands of water professionals from around the world to officially open the 86th annual Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC®) at McCormick Place in Chicago. Governor Quinn is committed to protecting the environment by modernizing Illinois’ water infrastructure and in recognition of the conference, he proclaimed October as “Water’s Worth It” Month in Illinois.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released the following statement applauding BNSF’s recent decision to invest $145 million in improving and expanding Illinois rail capacity. This investment includes extending three departure tracks at the Galesburg Yard to a length of 10,000 feet each and construction of new siding 7,600 feet long between Barstow and Hillsdale

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Congressman Rodney Davis (RIL-13) announced that a key provision of their bipartisan and bicameral legislation to help speed up repairs and upgrades to the aging locks and dams on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers overwhelmingly passed the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure with bipartisan support. The provision was included in the Water Resources Reform & Development Act (WRRDA), which will now go to the House floor for a vote by the full chamber

STERLING - September 23, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Pat Quinn today announced more than $5 million in investments to 13 communities across Illinois for green infrastructure improvement projects. Illinois Green Infrastructure Grants (IGIG) are designed to support projects that reduce the amount of pollution running into Illinois waterways from stormwater sources and reduce the risk of localized flooding. This announcement is part of Governor Quinn’s agenda to protect our natural resources and ensure a clean and healthy environment for future generations, while creating construction jobs

WASHINGTON - September 4, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced the allocation of nearly $29 million to the City of Chicago, Cook County, DuPage County, and the State of Illinois to help these communities recover from devastating spring storms, strong winds and flooding. These grants are provided through HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program to support long-term disaster recovery efforts in areas with the greatest extent of ‘unmet need.’

CHICAGO - August 29, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), the state’s housing finance agency, today announced Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has upgraded its credit rating. S&P cited IHDA’s financial strength and strong management practices in raising the credit rating to AA- from A+.

SPRINGFIELD, IL - August 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Illinois home sales surged 28.5 percent over previous-year levels in July and median prices increased 14.2 percent, according to the Illinois Association of REALTORS®, providing evidence of a strong summer housing market.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 31, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today applauded the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee’s approval of Federal Housing Administration (FHA) solvency legislation that includes his amendment to protect seniors who take out reverse mortgage loans. The amendment, which Senator Kirk offered with Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and David Vitter (R-La.), strengthens the FHA Solvency Act, a bill that reforms the FHA to put the agency on more stable financial ground.

Washington, DC - July 31, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) speaks out against drastic cuts to infrastructure and housing programs made in the FY 2014 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill.

CHICAGO - July 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) and the Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing today announced the release of a new Fair Housing Webinar series funded as a partnership project by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. The series of webinars covers major fair housing issues and is designed to educate stakeholders and the general public about fair housing law under federal law as well as the Illinois Human Rights Act.

STATEWIDE - July 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Affordable housing for seniors, working families and people with disabilities is on the horizon for Illinois communities. As the state housing finance agency under Governor Pat Quinn, the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) Board recently approved the allocation of federal tax credits generating an estimated $62.2 million in private equity to create more than 620 new and refurbished affordable rental units and generate more than 930 jobs across Illinois.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 24, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Following a Senate Banking Subcommittee hearing, U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today released a statement on the role of community banks in the housing finance system, and expressed his support for winding down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: