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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — The state will be issuing $30 million in grants to downtown revitalization projects across the state.
The projects are focused on either improving infrastructure or building out housing options
“Our state government treated these towns across the state as a relic of the past rather than a key part of our future,” Pritzker said. “Main streets and downtowns were losing their small businesses, in part because they needed upgrades and improvements that local governments sometimes could not afford.”
Pritzker chose to announce the grants in downtown Jacksonville — a city that has utilized plenty of state grants to spruce up their square in downtown. Now, they will get an additional $2 million to build out workforce housing in a town that badly needs it.
“We need to fill these jobs,” Ezard said. There’s jobs opening that we can’t fill, but we need places for them to leave that are for the live that are affordable.”
Jacksonville Mayor Andy Ezard said the te face lift for downtown has given the town a spark, which they now hope to capitalize on with more projects and more investment.
“We have seen the vibe change completely,” Ezard said. “There’s an art scene, there’s a culture, there’s there’s a renaissance of business is used to an aging downtown, which had many dead storefronts closed, just look ran down. We cleaned it up.”
Here is a full list of grants awarded provided by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
| RDMS Grantee | Economic Development Region | Award Amount | Project Description |
| Bubin Properties, LLC | East Central | $771,263 | Phase 1 of the renovation planned for the vacant building at 48 East Main Street in Downtown Champaign and for adjacent properties. |
| City of Bloomington | North Central | $1,999,603 | Initial element of “Downtown for Everyone” Streetscape Program to revitalize downtown Bloomington through various roadway and infrastructure improvements. |
| City of East Moline | Northwest | $2,000,000 | Improvements will support economic growth by transforming 15th Avenue – the City’s “Main Street” – into an accessible, connected corridor that prioritizes space for pedestrians, shops and restaurants. |
| City of Hillsboro | Central | $749,275 | The City’s Downtown Main Street Improvement Project Phase II addresses sidewalks, curbing, water service and lighting. |
| City of McHenry | Northeast | $771,263 | Reconstruct Riverside Drive from Venice Avenue to just past Pearl Street in the City’s downtown district. |
| City of Mendota | Northwest | $1,988,625 | “Rise From the Ashes Revitalization Project” will develop a multi-purpose city-owned and city-managed downtown building impacted by devastating fire in 2022. |
| City of Morris | Northeast | $771,263 | Design, engineering and installation of streetscape enhancements in downtown Morris recommended in the Morris Downtown Master Plan. |
| City of Nokomis | Central | $330,000 | The Downtown Streetscape & Beautification Project will install storefront ADA sidewalk along Illinois Route 16 (W. State St.) from S. Spruce Street to Pine Street. |
| City of Rockford | Northern Stateline | $2,000,000 | Madison Street Phase II streetscape improvements. |
| City of Spring Valley | Northwest | $695,430 | The City of Spring Valley Downtown Revitalization Project will bring streetscape improvements enhancing access to the businesses in the 100 and 200 blocks on St. Paul St. |
| City of West Chicago | Northeast | $2,000,000 | Streetscape project will improve the aesthetics, functionality, accessibility and state of repair of Main St. and Turner Ct. between Washington St. and Wilson Ave. |
| JAC Managing Member LLC | Southwest | $2,000,000 | Restore Jacoby Building Renovation in Alton to develop a 1904 furniture company building into 18 apartments, a restaurant and an art center. |
| Re:purpose Development LLC | Southern | $771,263 | Rehabilitation and redevelopment of Hoffman Hart building in downtown Centralia. |
| The Springfield Project | Central | $1,999,251 | The CAP 1908 Innovation Center will be a business incubator, accelerator and co-working space, offering a wide range of small business and organization programming on Springfield’s East Side. |
| Village of Lake Villa | Northeast | $855,013 | “Station One” project will acquire and develop a vacant fire station building and mixed-use commercial property for mixed-use development that includes commercial, residential, civic and public recreation spaces. |
| Village of Walnut | Northwest | $297,750 | This final phase of the Village’s rehabilitation would include sidewalk replacement/improvements, new modern street light installation and installing a new asphalt pavement surface. |
And here is the list of RISE grants, which are for affordable housing developments in the state.
| RISE Grantee | Economic Development Region | Award Amount | Project Description |
| City of Carbondale | Southern | $2,000,000 | Phase 2 of Washington Street Entertainment and Events Plaza – construction of a market-activity pavilion at the Carbondale Entertainment and Events Plaza. |
| City of Effingham | Southeast | $373,500 | Purchase of 2.6 acres of property on Heritage Ave. to develop and provide affordable workforce housing. |
| City of Jacksonville | Central | $2,000,000 | Project will acquire an identified site to develop workforce housing. |
| City of Monmouth | West Central | $1,504,646 | Project includes the reconstruction/streetscaping of Main St. from 2nd Ave. to 1st Ave. and from Archer Ave. to Boston Ave., with the previously reconstructed Public Square between the two sections of the project. |
| City of Pana | Central | $1,245,000 | Develop three-parcel lot in downtown Pana into outdoor event space, including service hook-ups for food trucks, ADA-compliant restrooms and outdoor seating. |
| City of Red Bud | Southwest | $932,041 | Infrastructure development for the Red Bud Business Park. |
| City of Woodstock | Northeast | $1,047,750 | Renovate the Opera House’s Stage Left Café and its west annex as a reception and bar area, and Woodstock will install three dual-screen interactive kiosks on the Square to engage residents and visitors in music and art, holiday celebrations, cultural events and Opera House and Stage Left Café performances. |
| McLean County Regional Planning Commission | North Central | $250,000 | Fund the Housing Coordinator position over the two-year grant performance period. |
| Village of Flanagan | North Central | $895,361 | Dredging of Lagoon at wastewater treatment facility. |
