Carrollton receives $1.9 million Rebuild Illinois grant
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By Carmen Ensinger
Carrollton received some good – no, make that absolutely fabulous-news, on Monday when they were notified they were one the 50 selected communities chosen to receive funding through the Rebuild Illinois Downtown and Main Streets Capital Grant program.
“We are very happy to find out that we have been chosen as one of the select few in the state to receive this grant,” Carrollton Mayor Mike Snyder said. “I think one of the big reasons we were chosen was because are partnering with the county, and we were able to present a project ready application, thanks, in part, to the Carrollton Square Initiative (CSI). There are a lot of good things happening in Carrollton right now and this is just one more thing to add to that list.”
The plans used in the application were the original plans drawn up by the CSI for the proposed TIF district several years ago which were then tweaked to include making the courthouse handicap accessible and including the Veteran’s Memorial on the courthouse lawn, plus a few other things.
Nick Graham, a member of the CSI, had this to say about the announcement of the grant.
“Seeing nearly $2 million invested around the square is a major win for the region. These funds will make key improvements and support the continued development of the square,” he said. “A lot of hard work from public and private individuals made this happen. We are excited to see what the future holds.”
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced $106 million in capital grants awarded to revitalize 50 commercial corridors and main streets throughout Illinois.
In addition to this $106 million in state funding, projects offered an additional $109 million in matching grant funds, for a total investment of $215 million.
Launched through Rebuild Illinois State capital funds and further expanded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the grants support projects that will revitalize commercial hubs, beautify and modernize downtowns, address critical infrastructure needs, boost jobs and improve the quality of life for residents.
“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 — in turn, bettering the quality of life for our state’s residents,” Gov. Pritzker said in a press release. “With that upgraded infrastructure comes economic opportunity: more jobs, more business growth, and more money pouring into the communities that need it most — and that’s what Rebuild Illinois is all about.”
The state originally allocated $50 million in funding for this project in 2021. However, due to the high quality of applications and ongoing need, as well as the number of projects eligible for federal COVID relief funds, funding for the program increased by $56 million for a total of $106 million in investments benefiting 50 total communities. The increase in funding allowed the state to support an additional 29 community revitalization projects.
Grants awarded through the program are located in a commercial center or downtown area and include a variety of projects, such as the restoration of historic buildings, parking and street improvements, construction or improvement of outdoor venues or plazas for public use, sustainability upgrades, structural repairs and other projects benefitting the larger community. Grants range from $398,552 to $3 million in funding.