Quincy’s Sixth Street Promenade to get $2.4 million state Main Street grant; Pittsfield getting $2.8 million for work on Monroe Street

QUINCY — The second time was the charm.

In 2020, The City of Quincy Quincy applied for a $1.03-million IDOT grant to help pay for the Sixth Street Promenade, but it was rejected.

But today, Governor JB Pritzker announced that Quincy was of several communities to receive part of $215 million in grant funding through the Rebuild Illinois (RBI) Downtowns and Main Streets Capital program, which represents the largest-ever RBI investment focused on community revitalization. 

And with the approval of Quincy’s second application, the City is getting even more for the project: $2.4 million. That money will go toward improvements to the corridor along Sixth Street and extends from Maine to Vermont Streets.

“We’ve had the banners up, but now we can actually build the promenade,” said City Planning and Development Director Chuck Bevelheimer.

Pittsfield is also getting significant dollars: $2.8 million for the reconstruction and street scape work on Monroe Street.

Quincy’s match will be $2.05 million and will come from the following funds:

• $1.25-million in TIF funds already allocated for the project, which was supposed to begin the construction had the city received the first grant.
• $800,000 in water/sewer revenue identified for water/sewer work in the area.

Launched through Rebuild Illinois State capital funds and further expanded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the grants support projects that will revitalize commercial hubs, beautify and modernize downtowns, address critical infrastructure needs, boost jobs and improve the quality of life for residents.

“I am thrilled to announce that we are doubling last year’s investment in our Downtowns and Main Streets Capital Grant program to include over 50 communities throughout Illinois to modernize downtowns, address long-awaited infrastructure needs, and boost local economies — in turn, bettering the quality of life for our state’s residents,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “With that upgraded infrastructure comes economic opportunity: more jobs, more business growth, and more money pouring into the communities that need it most — and that’s what Rebuild Illinois is all about.”

The state originally allocated $50 million in funding for this project in 2021. However, due to the high quality of applications and ongoing need, as well as the number of projects eligible for federal COVID relief funds, funding for the program increased by $56 million for a total of $106 million in investments benefiting 50 total communities. The increase in funding allowed the state to support an additional 29 community revitalization projects. 

The RBI 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.  

Grants awarded through the program are located in a commercial center or downtown area and include a variety of projects, such as the restoration of historic buildings, parking and street improvements, construction or improvement of outdoor venues or plazas for public use, sustainability upgrades, structural repairs and other projects benefitting the larger community. Grants range from $398,552 to $3 million in funding.