CHICAGO, IL - August 25, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Pat Quinn signed the Intermodal Facilities Promotion Act, which is designed to encourage business development along the freight rail systems of Illinois. Based on experience with their existing Elwood facility, CenterPoint Properties projects 7,000 permanent new jobs being brought to Illinois through an intermodal facility in Joliet

Renovation Will Improve Energy Efficiency of Historic Courthouse. New York, N.Y. - August 25, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Turner Construction Company, the nation’s leading general builder, has been selected by the United States General Services Administration to provide pre-construction and construction management services for the $110 million renovation of the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago, Illinois, which was constructed in 1964 and designed by Mies Van Der Rohe. The courthouse will remain in operation during the renovation, with work being performed at night and during the weekends. Completion of the renovation is scheduled for 2012.

SPRINGFIELD, IL - August 21, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- August 20, 2009. On behalf of Governor Pat Quinn, The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today released guidelines for individuals and businesses interested in applying for state energy grants. Last week, Governor Quinn announced that the U.S. Department of Energy had approved Illinois’ State Energy Plan (SEP), which will make over $100 million in federal recovery funding available for grants in Illinois.

SPRINGFIELD, IL - August 21, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- July registered another month of positive signs in the Illinois housing market with home sales about even with July 2008 totals as well as six consecutive month-to-month sales increases for both the state as a whole and the Chicagoland PMSA. According to the Illinois Association of REALTORS® latest report, statewide total home sales (which include single-family and condominiums) in July 2009 reached 11,407 homes sold, off a slight 0.1 percent from July 2008 sales of 11,417; sales were up 4.2 percent from 10,944 homes sold the previous month of June 2009.

CHICAGO, IL - August 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- August 15, 2009. In an effort to help struggling homeowners, Governor Pat Quinn today announced an outreach program to give Chicago area homeowners face-to-face guidance when applying for lower mortgage payments through President Obama’s Making Home Affordable Program.

SPRINGFIELD, IL - August 11, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pent-up demand plus affordable prices, low interest rates and the tax credit incentive provided a substantial boost to the Illinois housing market in the second quarter, according to the Illinois Association of REALTORS® (IAR). Statewide total home sales (which include single-family and condominiums) increased by 61.8 percent in the second quarter of 2009 to 27,531 homes sold compared to 17,017 homes sold in the first quarter of 2009. Sales were down 16.4 percent from second quarter 2008 sales of 32,949.

July 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The House unanimously approved an amendment offered by Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) today to H.R. 3288, the Fiscal Year 2010 (FY 10) Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act.

CHICAGO, IL - July 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- First-time homebuyers in Illinois now have an opportunity to take advantage of current low-interest rates and decreasing home prices under an innovative new program offered by the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA). The Illinois Home Start Loan Program allows hundreds of residents to achieve the dream of homeownership through a new 30-year fixed rate loan, and an advance loan on the federal tax credit created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Washington, DC - July 22, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL-13) today secured House passage of bipartisan legislation to modernize and expand housing assistance and supports for those with severe disabilities, including mental illnesses. Introduced in March by Biggert, the lead GOP sponsor, and Rep. Christopher Murphy (D-CT-5), H.R. 1675, the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2009, passed with overwhelming support and now awaits Senate action.

Washington, DC - July 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Today, Rep. Bill Foster (IL-14) announced that communities in the 14th District have been awarded $7,327,749 in grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This funding was made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which Foster voted for.

Chicago, IL - July 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — To gauge the progress of Chicago’s Plan to End Homelessness since its introduction six years ago by a broad coalition of public and private partners, Chicago is launching the first-ever evaluation of a city’s Plan to End Homelessness. Led by nationally-renowned homeless policy experts at the University of Chicago and Loyola University Chicago in conjunction with the Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness, the evaluation is a comprehensive, two-year, community-driven effort to answer the question: is Chicago’s Plan effectively preventing and ending homelessness for individuals and families in Chicago?

WASHINGTON, DC - July 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to six storm-ravaged counties in Illinois and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following last month's severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois communities and housing agencies will receive $28,377,761 in grant funding through four programs administered by Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

WASHINGTON, D.C - July 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — United States Senator Roland W. Burris today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is awarding the State of Illinois with $94,676,979 from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

INDIANAPOLIS - June 29, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) will deliver education for electronic systems professionals, both rookie and veteran, at an upcoming event hosted by Capitol Sales Company in the Chicago area July 12–14. CEDIA University (CU) On the Road will travel to the Capitol Sales Learning Institute™ – Regional Outreach event in Itasca, Il., to offer core courses from three CEDIA University colleges. The event will also feature product training from top manufacturers and a certification opportunity from the Electronic Systems Professional Alliance (ESPA).