City to Receive $1.1 Million Downtown Development Grant

City to Receive $1.1 Million Downtown Development Grant

City to Receive $1.1 Million Downtown Development Grant

The City of Rochelle is thrilled to be a recipient of over $1.1 Million for downtown redevelopment as part of Governor Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois’ Downtowns and Main Streets program.  Improvements to our downtown attract small business, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for our residents.  Rochelle is one of just fifty communities to receive the award.

“I am extremely excited to officially receive word of the receipt of the $1.1 Million grant for our downtown. This grant will allow our community to continue to prosper and grow with some long-awaited projects in the downtown area,” said Mayor John Bearrows.   “Thank you to the State of Illinois and my hats off to our staff who worked very diligently through the documentation process required to achieve this for Rochelle.”

The City plans to construct a public restroom facility, add two additional parking lots and rehab several existing parking lots.  Also included in the plans is the continuation of lighting, landscaping and beautification projects that have been underway over the last several years.  The City’s portion of the project will be $306,000 and construction is anticipated to take place in 2023.

The Downtowns and Main Streets Capital Program is designed to support local commercial corridors, with concentrations of businesses that experienced difficulties during the pandemic due to declining foot traffic, tourism, and business from downtown offices. The program drives investment in infrastructure and public amenities that continue to fuel economic activity as more Illinoisans patron their local town centers.