Underwood Secures $4,105,790 in Funding for University Research and Local Parks
JOLIET — This week, Representative Lauren Underwood announced a new round of federal funding she has secured for university research and local parks in the 14th District.
As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Underwood has made securing federal resources for northern Illinois a top priority. The following funds will support programs in the 14th District with federal resources:
Village of Minooka, Minooka, Illinois - $237,500
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources on behalf of the Village of Minooka, will receive $237,500 in federal funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. These funds will be used to acquire an additional 5 acres at Aux Sable Springs Park.
This funding will support the Village of Minooka as they improve and modernize the Aux Sable Springs Park and help support creating a seamless park system from backyard to backcountry.
Rep. Underwood helped secure the funding by supporting and helping pass the Great American Outdoors Act (H.R. 1957).
Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois - $3,868,290
Northern Illinois University will receive $3,868,290 in federal funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to fund their research project, "Collaborative Research: AGS-FIRP Track 3: In-situ Collaborative Experiment for the Collection of Hail In the Plains (ICECHIP)."
According to the project abstract, this funding will support a Northern Illinois University team working to improve hail forecasting and radar detection by collecting detailed hailstorm data using advanced technologies, enhancing our understanding of storm dynamics and impact prediction. The project includes educational and training efforts for students across ten universities, including two Minority Serving Institutions.
Rep. Underwood helped secure the funding through the Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations funding package.
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