Latest news with #CENTRALILLINOIS
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
From the Farm: U of I student, National FFA President talks past in agriculture
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — It's National FFA Week and this year's edition is being held under the leadership of national President Thaddeus Bergschneider, a Central Illinois native and University of Illinois student. Community Spotlight: National FFA Week continues in Central IL The WCIA audience met Bergschneider in the fall after he was elected. He spoke about what his next 12 months would look like as FFA President, but Stu Ellis also asked him a question about his upbringing: how did he get to where he is today? Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Central IL areas receiving Regional Site Readiness Program grants
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Six Central Illinois areas were among those to receive part of $31 million in grant awards to help prepare large sites for industrial development. On Wednesday, Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and local leaders announced Regional Site Readiness Program awards totaling $31 million to support site readiness activities at 24 sites across the state. This program includes two funding opportunities: Planning grants to support due diligence, studies and site plans Capital Ready grants to support capital infrastructure improvements Decatur BOE approves expulsions, suspensions of students, staff 'Readiness planning, assessments, infrastructure improvements – these things are all the fundamental work that must be done for businesses and investments to flourish and jobs to grow across the state,' Pritzker said. 'In every corner of Illinois, there are communities that are overflowing with untapped potential but do not have the resources and support they needed to fully realize it.' Through the funding, 13 Planning grantees and 11 Capital Ready grantees will work on projects to improve sites which will attract future investment and new job opportunities in the industrial sector across Illinois' Economic Development Regions. Of these 24 sites, the six Central Illinois areas include Decatur, Mattoon, Effingham, Springfield, Livingston County and Champaign County: Grantee Region Award Project Description City of Decatur Central $2,918,000 Water main extension for 190-acre site City of Mattoon Southeast $2,357,920 Substation improvements for 74-acres at Mattoon Enterprise Park City of Effingham Southeast $3,000,000 Water, sewer and road extensions to 150-acre site Grantee Region Award Project Description Springfield Airport Authority Central $147,600 Mapping and drainage study for 116-acres at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport City of Decatur Central $149,500 Water infrastructure study for 80-acre site Champaign County Economic Development Corporation East Central $150,000 Wastewater engineering study for 301-acres at Apollo Industrial Park Greater Livingston County Economic Development Council North Central $35,168 Environmental due diligence for 362-acres at MegaSite USA Urbana School bus involved in Tuesday crash, no one hurt Effingham's project will construct approximately 1,500 feet of street, water and sewer for West Airport Road. This includes installing traffic signals at Airport Road and RT 45. The total project costs are estimated at $3.75 million, in which 80% is grant funded and 20% will be matched by the city. The goal of the program, guided by Illinois' 2024 Economic Growth Plan, is to support municipalities, local economic development organizations and landowners in gathering information and making site improvement mandatory to attract industrial businesses to their communities. DCEO is investing in the full spectrum of industrial site readiness needs on sites over 50-acres across Illinois. Every grant required a local match as a part of the total project cost. The planning grants will fund critical due diligence including environmental studies, engineering studies, site concept plans and preparation activities for land acquisition. 'These site readiness grants are more than infrastructure projects— they're investments in people, potential, and the future of our communities,' Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton said. 'When we invest strategically and locally, we create new opportunities, strengthen economies, and drive transformative growth.' 'Cannot be swept under the rug': Bill would require Illinois students who commit sexual assault to be expelled Additionally, capital ready grants will fund a variety of site development capital expenses, including horizontal infrastructure such as roads, water, sewer and other utilities needed for future industrial businesses to locate in the state. Both types of investments are needed to increase the number of sites ready for industrial development. The program recipients were selected through a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that was open to local governments, economic development organizations and private landowners. The grants ranged from just over $35,000 to $3 million. On top of the $31 million in program funding that was awarded, DCEO plans to deploy available funds for more site development opportunities moving forward. Passed in 2019, Rebuild Illinois is the largest capital program in state history. The $45 billion investment is supporting improvements to Illinois' infrastructure, creating jobs and promoting economic growth. 'The Regional Site Readiness Program is building on the state's economic momentum,' DCEO Director Kristin Richards said. 'These projects are readying sites for new capital investment and job creation to solidify Illinois' reputation as an economic powerhouse that provides companies with access to the infrastructure they need to succeed.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
