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Rauner foundation donates $100K to Cairo Port project, but lots more needed

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Illinois

* From the Southern…

A fresh infusion of hope came with the new year for the Cairo Port project in the form of a sizable donation from the Rauner Family Foundation.

In a news release from Cairo Public Utility on Wednesday, it was announced that Gov. Bruce and wife Diana Rauner’s foundation would be donating $100,000 to the project. Larry Klein, chairman of the Port District and general manager of CPU, said in the release this donation will allow them to drum up interest from shipping companies. […]

He also said that as more companies express interest in the port, which would be built on 160 acres along the Mississippi River-side of the city, it will open up more funding opportunities in 2018 and beyond. […]

However in May, [Sen. Dale Fowler, R-Harrisburg] told the paper there was a need for about $1 million in “soft money” to pay for legal fees, permits and surveys before any real development could start.

On a visit to Cairo in May, Delta Regional Authority Federal Co-Chairman Chris Masingill said the DRA valued the project and could jump in at any point in its development, but said that soft money was needed before they could make any commitments.

Maybe JB Pritzker and Chris Kennedy could open their wallets as well?

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 4:17 pm

Comments

Isn’t this where Intersect Illinois steps in?

Comment by blue dog dem Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 4:28 pm
Cairo is not a YMCA, and while Rauner and Dr. Rauner’s Rauner Family Foundstion donation may be helpful, it will not solve the problems in Cairo. Perhaps others will donate, but this is also not a Mansion rehabilitation. This requires someone “being in charge”, not governing for a hobby and a tax write-off while he waits for. US Supreme Court decision. If Rauner is serious sbout the Port Authority work, then show us a budget that works this year.

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 4:39 pm
Is the idea that truck and rail containers would unload on barges at Cairo to continue on down to New Orleans?

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 5:01 pm
In 1.4% mind he is thinking “here’s 2 bits, don’t spend it all in one place.”

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 5:08 pm
Downstate image rehab?

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 5:15 pm
“I invite the remaining residents of Cairo to join me and match our donation to bootstrap the port into reality,” Rauner said in a statement. /s

Comment by Vote Quimby! Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 5:25 pm
I’m going to put on my cynic hat right now -

First, Thank you Governor Bruce and Diana for the charitable donation. All is appreciated.

Second, this strikes me as being little more than a feeble, transparent and not unnoticed attempt to curry favor and create some “political” good will in the poorest county in Illinois.

Third, DoYourJob. Propose a “balanced” budget that has a line item for fully developing this potential economic hub. Anything less strikes me as being little more than political pandering and posturing - we see through this hypocrisy.

Comment by illini Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 5:26 pm
Echo Illini.

Would add that he comes across kind of clueless (or disingenuous) with this donation. Does anyone really expect $100k to move the needle with this project?

It reminds me of candidate Rauner drivin the trash can van down to the south side to make a donation to a credit union. At least then he ponied up $1M.

Comment by Henry Francis Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 5:39 pm
Henry F ….Maybe the Mrs and Guv wanted to throw them a life line without having to bleed out in springfield to do it.

Comment by theCardinal Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 5:46 pm
I was in Cairo a few days ago. Why? Family road trip. I got off the interstate and wanted to see this town. It’s small. And there are JB for Governor signs!

Comment by Sputnik Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 5:48 pm
- “It reminds me of candidate Rauner drivin the trash can van down to the south side to make a donation to a credit union. At least then he ponied up $1M.”

It wasn’t a donation, it was a deposit.

Comment by Chicago 20 Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 5:48 pm
Thank you to the Rauner Foundation.

Governors that lead need not checks, but the will to do right, and make decisions that impact far greater than the placement of numbers in ledgers at a measured cost.

I thank the Foundation, but to dismiss the failure of the Administration in endeavors would be a mistake too.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 6:14 pm
If only Illinois had an economic development entity that could promote good ideas like this and bring them into reality.

Comment by Juan Bolsa Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 8:14 pm
Juan. Have no fear. When the money is right. And the good old boy network is in place. You can bet your sweet icicles it will be Intersect Illinois to the rescue. Just follow the money

Comment by blue dog dem Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 8:51 pm
BDD - that’s funny about Intersect. Those folks don’t seem to do much of anything. Check out their web page and their “successes”. It’s not as bad as the Guv’s top 10 accomplishments, but it’s close.

Comment by Henry Francis Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 9:05 pm
Henry. I could write a book about its corruption.

Comment by blue dog dem Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 9:11 pm
BDD - I’m not sure there is corruption when they don’t do anything. Their only concern is how do they go out and raise more funds? They have no accomplishments to show for the money they already squandered.

It’s kinda similiar to the Guv trying to get people to give him their vote again.

Comment by Henry Francis Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 9:16 pm
Sounds a lot like a $1 mil deposit in a black credit union on the south side last election cycle.

Definition of pandering.

Words. Deeds.

Comment by Langhorne Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 9:42 pm
Nothing against Cairo, but is there any evidence that there’s a demand for a port there for intermodal transportation? Transferring containers from trucks and trains to barges? Lot of established competition for that up both the Mississippi and Ohio already.

First the railroads, then the interstates, put the hurt on a lot of formerly strategic river ports.Cairo’s decline wasn’t a decline in politics, but an advance in logistics.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 10:24 pm
BDD, how can they be corrupt if they don’t do anything?

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 10:24 pm
Word,

Yes, actually there is quite a bit of corporate interest in this port. The project was abandoned by Governor Quinn and then Governor Rauner. It’s nice to see his foundation writing a check but it doesn’t erase the damage caused by three years of neglect under his administration. And it’s wildly inappropriate and illegal to use a foundation for political purposes. But they’re desperate so I’m grateful.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 10:53 pm
Grandstandin’ and campaingin’ cuz, you know, BVR is the common man and all. Ugh.

Comment by Tom Servo Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:12 pm
I wear a Carhartt jacket - because I need it to keep myself warm. Mine is not a prop. Hence, one difference between me and the current office holder. Again, ugh.

Comment by Tom Servo Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:15 pm
—First, Thank you Governor Bruce and Diana for the charitable donation. All is appreciated.

Second, this strikes me as being little more than a feeble, transparent and not unnoticed attempt to curry favor and create some “political” good will in the poorest county in Illinois.—

This made me wonder… how did Cario know to apply for funds from the Rauner Foundation? Or who approached Cairo about this funding opportunity? Is there a lack of a firewall between government, politics & the Rauner Foundation?

Cario needs all the help they can get, but the timing of this is interesting.

Comment by Olivia Pope Wednesday, Jan 3, 18 @ 11:31 pm
Anon. Oh, they have done things alright. Typically wrong.

Comment by Blue dog dem Thursday, Jan 4, 18 @ 8:33 am