By Jacque Day
Massac, Alexander counties, Ill. – Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has extended Put Illinois to Work through January 15. Created from federal stimulus funds, the program was designed to generate jobs for unemployed and underemployed Illinois residents. Federal funding for the program expired in September. The governor extended it with state funds in hopes that the U.S. Congress would act to continue funding. Quinn is now committing state funds for the additional six weeks. More than 26,000 workers have been hired since Put Illinois to Work launched last April, including two in Massac County, and 47 in Alexander County.