Illinois lab could provide boost to regional economy

With funding available for a new bioprocessing research lab at the University of Illinois, officials in Decatur see an opportunity to provide an economic boost across Central Illinois.State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, said Tuesday the state is investing $26 million in the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Lab, which will complement the production and transportation capacity of Decatur and the surrounding area's corn and soybean production. Rose said the lab, which is being built on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus, aims to produce new technologies in renewable fuel and energy on a large scale.