SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today detailed how $400,000 in grant funds appropriated in the FY06 Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) budget will be allocated to assist the state’s growing wine industry. The funds, provided to IDOA as part of the Governor’s comprehensive Opportunity Returns program, will enable the agriculture department to continue providing technical assistance to both grape growers and wine makers, continue education through a variety of workshops as well as continue research vital to the future of the Illinois wine industry.

"Before Prohibition, Illinois was one of the top wine producing states in the nation. But it wasn’t until the last decade that we’ve started to rebuild that segment of our agriculture industry," Gov. Blagojevich said. "If we continue that growth and provide our grape growers and wine makers with the knowledge and resources they need to produce a quality product, we will all benefit from the results as more jobs are created and tourism dollars brought into the local economy."

The grant funds from the FY06 IDOA budget dedicated to enhancing the Illinois wine industry have been allocated as follows:

• University of Illinois - $120,950: to create an Extension Enology position; provide viticulture technical assistance to the industry through workshops and a bi-monthly newsletter; provide one-on-one assistance to new and existing growers; conduct research at an Urbana vineyard and the St. Charles Horticulture Center.
   
• Southern Illinois University - $77,150: to provide viticulture technical assistance for on-going projects including the Northern Wine Grape Canopy Management Study and Tunnels for Improving Condition of over wintered vines; viticulture technical assistance provided by the University.
   
• Illinois Grape Growers and Vintner’s Association - $174,300: to provide assistance to the Galena Cultivar Research Site; conduct enology and viticulture workshops in the three regions of the state; advertise on radio and in trade magazines as well as attend trade shows and special events in the Chicago area to promote the grape and wine industry; wine trails & festivals development and support; Governor’s Tourism Conference; newsletter support; State Fairs & Illinois Products Expo; support of IGGVA Executive Secretary.
   
• Viticulturist Alan Dillard - $19,600: to provide direct assistance and work with regional vineyard owner/operators; provide workshops in winter pruning, spring shoot positioning and thinning, summer canopy balance and late summer crop assessment; provide monthly updates of the status of vineyards.

Gov. Blagojevich has also invested $150,000 through the Illinois Bureau of Tourism for a comprehensive public relations and marketing campaign to highlight Illinois wineries and draw additional visitors to our state. Efforts include a renewed Web presence at www.illinoiswine.com, a marketing brochure that is being widely distributed, and print advertisements for targeted markets in Illinois and neighboring states. The Governor also declared September Illinois Wine Month by inviting residents and neighboring Midwesterners to discover the riches of Illinois wine country with wine tastings, grape stomps, Oktoberfests and more.

Gov. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois’ history. Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn’t work, the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions – each with a regional team that is empowered and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges. Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses. It is about upgrading the skills of the local workforce, increasing the access to capital, opening new markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs. Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach its economic potential.