Des Plaines receives grant for firing range

Des Plaines will be receiving a $40,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for the refurbishment of the police shooting range at 1111 Joseph Schwab Road. The project consists of replacing the bullet trap system, updating the ventilation system, installation of a new target system and upgrades to the electrical system. The city this week entered into an agreement with the DCEO to be eligible for the grant, which is 100 percent state-funded with no local match requirement. The total cost of the firing range project was $260,637, 80 percent of which was funded with asset forfeiture funds. The DCEO grant will be used to pay for the remainder of the project. Construction on the range was completed in 2011 and the city is responsible for maintaining it.