For Immediate Release
Contact:  Jason Gerwig
630/407-6022
October 10, 2007

REDICK PRAISES GRAND VICTORIA FOUNDATION FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF CLEAN AIR COUNTS

WHEATON – Recognizing their commitment to DuPage County and the promotion of a healthy and clean environment, DuPage County Board Member Jeff Redick today praised the Grand Victoria Foundation for their continued support of Clean Air Counts, a public-private partnership dedicated to reducing ozone-causing emissions as well as energy consumption levels in northeastern Illinois in an effort to improve overall air quality.

The goal of Clean Air Counts is to secure commitments by local households, businesses, and other organizations to take tangible steps toward improving the region’s air quality. 

“Clean air is essential to our quality of life here in DuPage County,” says Redick, Chairman of the County’s Environmental Committee.  “I applaud the Grand Victoria Foundation for ensuring that the DuPage County Clean Air Counts outreach corridor is funded for another year.  The cooperative efforts of private and public entities in creating a safe and healthy environment are a model that should be promoted and maintained.”

Unlike DuPage County, Clean Air Counts outreach corridors in other parts of the Chicagoland region have been funded through grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Unfortunately, the EPA has discontinued funding for those outreach corridors in Fiscal Year 2008. 

Redick notes that given the current budgetary issues facing the county, funding for Clean Air Counts in the next fiscal year remains uncertain and he supports the type of cooperative private partnership that has been enjoyed with the Grand Victoria Foundation. 

“The commitment of the Grand Victoria Foundation to these efforts has been a major benefit to the people of DuPage County and I look forward to working with them for years to come,” said Redick.

A number of area companies have already signed up to participate in this unique opportunity including McDonald’s Corporation, Nicor Gas, and USDOE-Fermi Lab. Administration of the Clean Air Counts Initiative in the region is coordinated by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus.