PEORIA – The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced the recipients of the second round of the Regional Site Readiness program. Two projects in State Senator Dave Koehler’s district will receive a combined $3.15 million to prepare sites for future industrial development.
“Preparing sites for future business investment is one of the best ways we can strengthen our regional economy and create good-paying jobs,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “These grants will help ensure our communities are ready to attract new employers, expand economic opportunity and support long-term growth across central Illinois.”
The Central Illinois Regional Airport Authority was awarded $3 million through the Capital Ready Grants Program for road construction to serve a 51-acre industrial development site at the airport. Additionally, Peoria County received a $150,000 Planning Grant to support site planning and infrastructure improvement assessments for a 53-acre industrial site.
The Regional Site Readiness Program aims to better prepare sites for industrial development across the state through flexible funding that supports planning, construction and infrastructure improvements needed for future development. A total of $35 million was awarded to projects across Illinois.
The program includes two competitive funding opportunities: Planning Grants to support due diligence activities, studies and site plans, and Capital Ready Grants to support capital infrastructure improvements.
“The state’s investments in the Regional Site Readiness Program are preparing sites for business across all 10 of our Economic Development Regions,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. “With double the funding available for the program, this second round of grants is supporting 30 grantees across Illinois as they ready their sites for business attraction and development.”
For a full list of grant recipients, click here.
