Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the next phase of his Rebuild Illinois Plan, including over $100 million in construction grants aimed at commercial corridors in 50 downtowns.
The projects are part of the $34.6 billion Rebuild Illinois plan that’s paid for with tax and fee increases, including a doubling of the state’s gas tax in 2019.
Pritzker announced the investments during a news conference at AltonWorks, in Alton. Pritzker said that Alton would be one of the 50 towns in Illinois to receive funding.
The infrastructure investment doubles the previous year’s investment, Pritzker said.
“I am thrilled to announce that we are doubling last year’s investment in our Downtowns and Main Streets Capital Grant program to include over 50 communities throughout Illinois to modernize downtowns, address long-awaited infrastructure needs, and boost local economies and, in turn, bettering the quality of life for our state’s residents,” said Pritzker.
The state’s $106 million spend will be matched by the federal tax dollars bringing the total to over $200 million in funding.
Pritzker laid out some things that will be happening across the state as part of this next investment in infrastructure.
“This means that Broadway Avenue in Aurora, the Times Theatre in Rockford, Simmons street in Galesburg, the Opera House in Woodstock, and many more are all going to be getting makeovers,” Pritzker said.
Last week the state announced another $20 billion of transportation investments for the Rebuild Illinois plan, including 2,500 miles of roads and nearly 10 million square feet of the bridge deck.
Funding for the $34.6 billion plan has come from a raise in the motor fuel tax per gallon from 19 cents to 38 cents in 2019, and increases in the special fuels tax on diesel fuel, liquefied natural gas, or propane by 5 cents per gallon.
A complete list of the projects was provided by the governor’s office:
| Recipients & Location | Project Description | Funding |
| AltonWorks, Alton | Restoration of historic buildings for the Wedge Innovation Center incubator. | $3,000,000 |
| City of Aledo | Roadway & streetscape improvements, including public plazas. | $3,000,000 |
| City of Anna | Downtown streetscape & water/sewer improvements. | $812,930 |
| City of Arcola | Downtown infrastructure improvements, including sanitary & stormwater sewer. | $1,040,000 |
| City of Aurora | Broadway Ave. corridor street & streetscape improvements. | $3,000,000 |
| City of Calumet City | Burnham Ave. corridor improvements. | $686,000 |
| City of Carbondale | Downtown Arts & Entertainment District improvements. | $2,055,040 |
| City of Carrollton | Courthouse square improvements. | $1,900,000 |
| City of Collinsville | St. Louis Road & Collinsville Road corridor initiative. | $1,828,350 |
| City of Danville | Walnut Street corridor reconstruction. | $3,000,000 |
| City of Edwardsville | Water/sewer & streetscape improvements on Main Street. | $2,869,031 |
| City of Flora | City grants for businesses making repairs/enhancements in commercial corridors. | $1,273,268 |
| City of Galesburg | Simmons Street streetscape improvements/reconstruction | $2,082,494 |
| City of Greenville | New downtown public plaza, including pavilion & visitors center. | $1,900,000 |
| City of Jacksonville | South Main St. reconstruction (continuation of Downtown Turnaround Project). | $2,975,161 |
| City of Joliet | Construction of “City Square” on Chicago St. corridor. | $3,000,000 |
| City of Kewanee | Downtown streetscape improvements. | $2,954,460 |
| City of Litchfield | Rehab of historic downtown building. | $398,552 |
| City of Mattoon | Downtown lighting, parking and accessibility improvements. | $525,000 |
| City of Moline | 7th Ave. reconstruction & connector project. | $3,000,000 |
| City of Monmouth | Downtown Square revitalization. | $3,000,000 |
| City of Ottawa | Construction of an outdoor riverfront amphitheater | $3,000,000 |
| City of Peoria Public Works | Wisconsin Ave. corridor project. | $3,000,000 |
| City of Pittsfield | Monroe Street reconstruction/streetscaping. | $2,842,129 |
| City of Quincy | 6th Street Corridor reconstruction/ streetscaping | $2,400,000 |
| City of Rochelle | Downtown parking construction & rehab. | $1,151,794 |
| City of Rock Falls | Acquisition and redevelopment of the abandoned Micro Industries property. | $2,200,717 |
| City of Rockford | Madison St. corridor reconstruction and utilities improvements. | $2,087,966 |
| City of Taylorville | Downtown square/business corridor streetscape and infrastructure improvements. | $ 3,000,000 |
| City of Wenona | Downtown streetscape improvements, including sidewalks, lighting and charging stations. | $969,580 |
| City of Woodstock | Woodstock Opera House renovations. | $2,964,553 |
| Deeply Rooted Productions, Chicago | Construction of South Side Center for Black Dance and Creative Communities in Chicago’s Washington Park neighborhood. | $2,999,414 |
| E. G. Woode, L3C, Chicago | Renovating a property to create a food hub/incubator in Englewood. | $1,164,683 |
| GT Partners, LLC, Rockford | Historic theater Times Theatre renovation. | $2,999,996 |
| Historic Champaign Holdings, Champaign | Multi-use redevelopment of historical downtown buildings. | $3,000,000 |
| Long Family Management LLC, DeKalb | Acquisition/rehab of vacant commercial property. | $566,500 |
| Prairie Food Co-op, Lombard | Construction of community grocery store in downtown Lombard. | $807,835 |
| Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, Rock Island | Downtown Rock Island Revitalization (multi-faceted) | $3,000,000 |
| Re:PurposeDevelopment LLC, Centralia | Winery Block Downtown renovation for mixed-used. | $ 1,000,000 |
| Village of Bourbonnais | Bourbonnais Community Campus and Village Green improvements. | $3,000,000 |
| Village of Bradley | Route 50 corridor improvements. | $ 3,000,000 |
| Village of Davis Junction | Commercial development and infrastructure improvements. | $ 3,000,000 |
| Village of Fairmont City | Cookson St. corridor roadway, streetscape & drainage improvements. | $1,270,696 |
| Village of Lansing | Business district sidewalk replacement. | $875,000 |
| Village of Maywood | 5th Avenue and Lake Street Business Corridor enhancements. | $2,252,000 |
| Village of Niles | Improvements at civic center, including plaza development. | $1,800,000 |
| Village of North Utica | Redevelopment of vacant lot, including utilities & commercial space for small businesses. | $ 1,249,969 |
| Village of Peotone | Downtown Street reconstruction and streetscape. | $2,458,071 |
| Village of Rantoul | Downtown Master Plan implementation and overall Downtown revitalization including infrastructure improvements. | $3,000,000 |
| Village of Richton Park | Redevelopment of Town Center properties. |
This article originally appeared on The Center Square.
