Arts Quincy gets $50,000 state grant for riverfront amphitheater study

QUINCY — Arts Quincy has announced receiving a $50,000 grant for an engineering study of a riverfront amphitheater at Clat Adams Park.

The grant was awarded by the Illinois Arts Council Agency from the Rebuild Illinois Capital Planning Fund. Arts Quincy, Quincy Riverfront Development Corporation and the City of Quincy worked together to acquire the funding. 

The Rebuild Capital Planning grant had over 100 applications with $4,500,000 in requested support which substantially exceeded the $500,000 available from the State of Illinois for this grant program. The grant was highly competitive, and decisions were based on the evaluation criteria and priority focus areas such as rural areas that were outlined in the application. 

These planning grants are intended to help organizations get the objective information and analysis they need before they commit their organization’s energies and financial resources to a facilities project. 

“This announcement is tremendous news for the City of Quincy and the surrounding area,” Mayor Mike Troup said. “The proposed amphitheater is an exciting first step toward the development of the riverfront, which will enhance the entire community. I do appreciation the work of all involved including Arts Quincy Director Laura Sievert and the Quincy Riverfront Development Corporation, to have the foresight to see the benefits of this project.”

“Arts Quincy is partnering on this project because we believe that this amphitheater is a critical part of community development. We’ve seen riverfront investments in surrounding communities like Hannibal and Burlington transform riverfronts into engines of commerce and community building,” Sievert said. “They’re a destination not just for arts programming, but for all types of community gatherings. Fireworks, Bridge the Gap, Fishing for Freedom, touring acts plus our local arts nonprofits and schools might find a home in such a facility. We’ll bring people together, boost our economy and create jobs. I’m so optimistic about the possibilities that begin with this grant.”

Arts Quincy previously worked with the state to secure a large capital investment in the Quincy History Museum at 4^th and Maine for $1.5 million in improvements.

“Capital funding from state partners does nothing less than transform what’s possible,” Sievert said. “We are grateful to the legislators on both sides of the aisle for making these strategic goals in downstate a priority.”