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Illinois Corn Marketing Board is looking forward to leveraging corn checkoff dollars with USDA funds to expand ethanol fueling infrastructure in Illinois. The grant funds were announced by USDA back in May. Today, on the campus of the University of Illinois, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the $100 million USDA Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership grant fund will be split between 20 states, with Illinois leading the way, receiving $12 million in the program.

Here in Illinois, the corn checkoff will work with private industry, the State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the American Lung Association in Illinois to get as many new pumps in place as possible.

Angela Tin, Vice President of Environmental Health of the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest states, “The mission of the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest, is to proactively develop policies and programs that identify and reduce our exposure to harmful air pollution.    Transportation sources have been one of the major sources resulting in up to 70% of the air quality problems in Illinois.  We are pleased to partner with the Illinois Department of Commerce to implement this important Clean Air Choice™ program.”

Moving more ethanol to market is a priority of IL Corn as we work to build demand for your #1 crop. Building demand remains our priority as you are facing break even or lower prices.