09/23/2025
Tuesday
In 1983, Macon Resources went by the name Macon County Rehabilitation Facilities and was in a physical facility at 904 E. Locust Street. That year, when then Secretary of State, Jim Edgar (who would become Governor of Illinois in 1991 and serve through 1999) moved the making of Illinois License Plates back to Illinois and specifically into the MRI building in Decatur, the plan was to make over 14 million plates in 3 years. Jim Edgar was in Decatur in 1983 when the first license plate was made. Pictured here is Jim Edgar who came back to Decatur to mark the making of the 15th million license plate in 1986.
The Decatur Illinois newspaper article dated Tuesday, July 29, 1986 shared this milestone of 15 million plates made since 1983 and that $25 million has been invested into our own State of Illinois in those 3 years instead of going to other states that had made Illinois plates over the previous 10 years. Another milestone was that it created over 100 jobs for individuals with a disability – that according to Edgar were “individuals that had something to contribute”. He noted that those making the Illinois plates now take tremendous pride in their work.
This is still true today. MRI, and a number of our people served, is making every license plate in the State of Illinois right here in Decatur, IL. and doing it with great pride. The MRI mission is to help “Build Meaningful Lives” and a part of doing that is providing jobs and job training. This helps promote growth, independence, and self-worth in those persons that we proudly assist and support each and every day at MRI. MRI gives support to over 800 individuals of all ages, race, and abilities each year.
