Governor JB Pritzker made waves in Carterville earlier today, announcing a whopping $10M windfall for the Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH) Cancer Institute. This cash boost is part of the governor's Rebuild Illinois plan, an ambitious bid to revamp the state's infrastructure. "As Governor, there is nothing more important than the health and safety of Illinoisans — no matter their zip code or income status," Pritzker stated, according to an official release. The grant is slated to help cover the costs of the Cancer Institute's recent expansion, an effort to ensure modern, holistic care for those it serves.
The investment is set to quickly be funneled into new furniture, cutting-edge medical gear, and the buildout of the cancer-beating facility. The Carterville expansion, wrapped up last December, added a hefty 20,000 square feet and spruced up both clinical and non-clinical areas. Alongside the main grant, an extra $300,000 in capital grants is also getting piped into the Institute, the first $150,000 going toward beefing up the SIH Cancer Institute Café and the second $150,000 dedicated to kitchen renovations for nutritious meal prep workshops.
SIH claims a harrowing past with cancer rates in Southern Illinois sitting unsettlingly above both state and national norms. Yet today, thanks to the Institute, mortality rates are on the decline in the area. John Antes, SIH President, and CEO, expressed the organization's dedication, "The SIH Cancer Institute is a shining example of our commitment to the people in the communities we serve," Antes told the Illinois government.
The sentiment was echoed by Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg), who celebrated the investment's possibility to keep life-saving care accessible and boost the local job market. "This is a great day for Southern Illinois!" Fowler acclaimed, while State Representative Dr. Paul Jacobs (R-Pomona) foresees the expansion being a lifesaver for countless locals. All these financial injections are made possible by Rebuild Illinois, Pritzker's hallmark $45 billion initiative, transformative in both its breadth and commitment to all facets of the state's infrastructure.
