State offers loans for ash borer reforestation

Low-interest state loans are now available to help reforest public land invaded by the emerald ash borer.

The loans were created through a senate bill sponsored by Sen. Jeffrey Schoenberg and Rep. Julie Hamos, both Evanston Democrats. It was signed into law Sunday by Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The bill outlines up to $2 million in loans for Northern Illinois communities infested by the tree-killing beetle.

The money must be used for reforestation projects on public land and must be repaid in 20 years. Repayments will replenish the loan program to help other borer-related reforestation projects.

The Illinois Finance Authority will administer the loans based on recommendations from the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

"This program will help restore the quality of life in communities that lose trees to the ash borer and ensure that financing for tree planning projects is affordable," Blagojevich said in a statement this week.

The borer was first discovered in Illinois last summer in a subdivision west of St. Charles. It since has been spotted in other parts of Kane County, along Lake Michigan in northern Cook County, near Peru in LaSalle County and in Glendale Heights in DuPage County.