22-04-2025
East Moline gets $2M grant for 15th Avenue revitalization
East Moline's revitalization just got a major financial boost.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) says the City of East Moline has been awarded a $2 million grant to support the reconstruction and streetscaping of 15th Avenue. The funding will help create a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly 'Main Street' as part of the City's Greater Downtown Revitalization Project.
This project will reconstruct 15th Avenue between 6th and 13th Streets, including new streetscaping, widened sidewalks and accessibility improvements, making the corridor more inviting for residents, visitors and businesses. A new 'festival street' between 7th and 9th Streets can accommodate outdoor events, food trucks and gatherings in a pedestrian-friendly layout.
The grant was made available through DCEO's Rebuilding Downtowns and Main Streets capital grant program. It supplements existing federal funding for improvements to 15th Avenue, 7th Street, 12th Avenue, and at The Bend that will work together to create downtown that's better connected. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and then-Representative Cheri Bustos announced the original $23.7 million federal grant in 2022.
'The revitalization of 15th Avenue and all of downtown is a transformational project for East Moline,' said Mayor Reggie Freeman. 'This grant allows us to leverage the RAISE grant we received to make an even greater impact to support local businesses, attract new investment, and enhance quality of life for residents and visitors alike. Thank you to Governor Pritzker, Senator Halpin, and Representative Johnson for their support of this critical project.'
The project will include green infrastructure to reduce surface runoff, improve pedestrian lighting for safety and install wayfinding signage to connect downtown attractions. A new gateway feature at 7th Street and 15th Avenue will welcome visitors to the heart of downtown. These improvements were originally identified in the City's downtown comprehensive plan and refined through public meetings in 2024.
Construction on the first phase of the Greater Downtown Revitalization began last week at The Bend; construction on the 15th Avenue improvements will begin this summer and is expected to be completed in 2026. Click here for more information.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
