The Village of Stonington was recently awarded a $450,000 state grant to help cover the cost of moving and replacing a main water line that runs from the village wells to the water treatment facility. State Senator Andy Manar (D–Bunker Hill) worked with Village Trustee Ryan Marucco to secure the grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)’s Community Development Assistance Program, which is responsible for investing in improvements to municipal water and sewer systems throughout the state.

After hearing of Manar’s Capitol on Your Corner events, Marucco contacted Manar about hosting an event in Stonington to discuss some issues the village needed help with.

According to Marucco, the aging water line currently runs through a nearby field, which makes identifying and fixing leaks troublesome during the months that crops are in the field.

The Village began applying for a grant through DCEO in 2012, so Manar contacted Governor Quinn’s office and DCEO Director Adam Pollet to advocate on behalf of the Village of Stonington to secure Community Development Assistance Program funding for the project.  Manar was familiar with that program after helping to secure a similar grant from DCEO while serving as Mayor of Bunker Hill and county chairman for Macoupin County.

Manar is encouraging local township or city officials to contact his office with questions about available state grants.