Luechtefeld announces nearly 600 jobs and $45 million at stake
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ An economic impact study shows that Chester Mental Health Center accounts for nearly 600 jobs and $45 million in income attributed to the facility, according to State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld (R-Okawville).
"Economic impact studies are a good tool for measuring jobs and money lost, but what will measure the headaches and emotional pain for the families, whose livelihood is at stake with the possible closure of Chester Mental Health Center," Luechtefeld said. "We are going to keep working together to prevent this closure, but I hope the Governor realizes what an incredible strain he has put on Randolph County and the workers at CMHC."
Luechtefeld notes that the recent economic impact study showed $45 million in direct, indirect and induced incomes into Chester. The study also estimates that 581 jobs in the community could be lost if the facility closes. Sales tax and income tax losses are estimated at $635,000 to local governments.
"Aside from the county-level data, the study looked at the impact on the City of Chester and found that 175 employees and $13 million of income would be lost, if CHMC shuts down," Luechtefeld said. "The impact study only reaffirms what we already knew about Chester Mental Health Center, that it is an important economic engine for Randolph County and the surrounding area."
The study was produced by the Regional Economics Applications Laboratory within the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois. It is available online at the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability Web site.
On the Senator's Web site, www.luechtefeld.senategop.org, constituents will find the latest information concerning the two facility closures. The Senator urged constituents to sign-up for e-mail updates that will be generated by his office.
The gold-colored "CHMC and IYC@M" information and the e-mail sign-up icons are located on the top-right-hand side of the Web site.