Illinois will invest $35 million in site readiness projects across the state, including more than $10 million for industrial development projects in central Illinois.
The latest round of Regional Site Readiness Program awards includes infrastructure funding for projects in Bloomington, Danville, Champaign-Urbana and Galesburg, according to a community announcement.
State officials said the awards will support 22 sites statewide and bring total program investments to $115 million across 63 projects.
Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity said the program is designed to help communities prepare sites for future industrial development through infrastructure improvements, environmental studies and planning activities aimed at attracting business investment and jobs.
“The Regional Site Readiness Program is a powerful example of Team Illinois in action: State government, local leaders, federal partners, and the private sector all coming together to build a stronger economy and create new opportunities for communities in our state,” Pritzker said.
Champaign-Urbana project receives nearly $3.9 million
The largest central Illinois award went to the Urbana & Champaign Sanitary District, which received $3,821,558 through the Capital Ready Grants Program.
The funding will support water and sewer infrastructure improvements serving a 274-acre industrial site and help expand wastewater capacity connected to Apollo Industrial Park in Champaign.
“The Regional Site Readiness Program grant awarded to the Urbana & Champaign Sanitary District is a great example of what can be accomplished through strong regional partnerships,” Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen said.
Champaign County Executive Steve Summers said the nearly $4 million investment will help create new economic development opportunities in the county.
Urbana & Champaign Sanitary District Executive Director Rick Manner said the project will strengthen wastewater capacity on the north side of Champaign and Urbana while supporting future industrial development.
“This grant allows us to make improvements that will strengthen wastewater capacity across the north side of Champaign and Urbana, including Apollo Industrial Park, for decades to come,” Manner said.
Airport, sewer projects funded in Bloomington, Danville and Galesburg
The Central Illinois Regional Airport Authority received $3 million for road construction serving a 51-acre site identified for industrial development at the airport in Bloomington.
In Vermilion County, the City of Danville was awarded $1,371,000 for a sewer infrastructure expansion serving a 50-acre industrial site.
The Galesburg Sanitary District received $1,915,857 to build sewer infrastructure serving a 90-acre industrial site.
Together, the four central Illinois projects account for more than $10.1 million in Capital Ready funding announced through the program.
DCEO Director Kristin Richards said the latest grants will support projects in all 10 of Illinois’ economic development regions.
“The state’s investments in the Regional Site Readiness Program are preparing sites for business across all 10 of our Economic Development Regions,” Richards said.
State officials said the latest awards are part of a broader $500 million site readiness initiative that includes $200 million for Site Ready Illinois and the Regional Site Readiness Program, along with $300 million for the Surplus to Success redevelopment initiative.
“The Regional Site Readiness Program is helping communities compete for tomorrow’s investment,” Illinois Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Christy George said. “Illinois has outstanding locations for business expansion.”
Passed in 2019, Rebuild Illinois is a $45 billion capital program supporting transportation, infrastructure and economic development projects across the state.
This story was created by reporter Nida Tazeen, NTazeen@usatodayco.com , with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: Galesburg to receive nearly $2M in site readiness from Illinois
Reporting by Nida Tazeen, The Journal Standard / Galesburg Register-Mail
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By Nida Tazeen, The Journal Standard | USA TODAY Network
