The construction of an ethanol plant could create many Illinois construction jobs, as well as some other permanent jobs.

The State of Illinois recently announced that Illinois River Energy, LLC has received a $4 million Renewable Fuels Development grant through the state’s Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to help build a new ethanol production facility in Northern Illinois. The company, which is based in Ogle County, estimates the facility will cost more than $120 million to build and will create 120 construction jobs and 40 permanent jobs, as well as support the state’s drive for energy independence.

“By investing in ethanol and other renewable fuels, we are increasing our energy independence, creating jobs and helping to secure Illinois’ future,” Governor Rod R. Blagojevich said in a press release. “This new ethanol plant represents the next generation of ethanol production in Illinois – using less energy while producing less carbon emissions – and will be one of the cleanest and most efficient facilities in the country.”

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Hundreds of Illinois law enforcement jobs are in question as a union and the State of Illinois are at legal odds with one another.

The Illinois Department of Corrections is planning to close the Pontiac Correctional Center by the end of the year, a move that could eliminate 570 jobs and save $4 million per year. However, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees recently filed a lawsuit against the IDOC to stop it from closing the facility and cutting jobs. According to an article by the Fort Mill Times, the prison is the town’s second-largest employer.

The state plans to move inmates from Pontiac, which is a maximum-security prison, to smaller prisons not built to handle maximum-security prisoners. Many of Pontiac’s 1,600 prisoners have been reclassified from medium-security to minimum-security and transfered to minimum-security prisons such as the Vienna Correctional Center in Johnson County and other prisons in Moline and Taylorville. Half of the inmates will be moved to a prison in Thomson.

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A recent plan to relocate Illinois construction jobs has found itself in court.

Opponents of a plan to relocate 150 construction jobs with the Illinois Department of Transportation from Springfield to southern Illinois will be in court next week in an effort to prevent the state from spending excess money on the move. Springfield Attorney Don Craven is asking the court to issue a preliminary injunction that would temporarily prevent Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes or Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias from allocating any money in connection with the jobs move.

According to an article by the Journal Star, the prohibition would remain in place until Attorney General Lisa Madigan acts on the administration’s plan to buy half of a former Wal-Mart building in Harrisburg to house the Illinois Department of Transportation Division of Traffic Safety. Madigan must sign off on the purchase before it can take place.

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