NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

City of Effingham receives funds to enhance downtown

Release Date: Dec. 21, 2009

City of Effingham officials have secured funding for improvements to the downtown area of Effingham through a grant program administered through the state.

Gov. Pat Quinn recently approved funding for the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program, including funding for a Downtown Streetscape program for the City of Effingham.

According to the grant package, the City of Effingham will receive $689,420 for improvements to its downtown area, which includes Jefferson Avenue, Washington Avenue, Section Avenue, Fourth Street and Fifth Street.  Improvements are to include new lighting fixtures along with wiring, sidewalk improvements, cross walk improvements, and landscaping.

“Our downtown area continues to be a focal point for our city, and it thrills me as mayor to receive a grant that will allow us to further improve our downtown,” said Mayor John Lange.  “As the community works together to revitalize this area of town, it is essential we continue to search for funding sources that will help us reach our goal.”

The City Engineering Department will work with IDOT to develop a defined scope of work, with project design expected to be complete in 2010 and construction to be completed in 2011.

The grant will fund 80 percent of the total project costs with the City required to provide matching funds, which 20 percent will be paid through Tax Increment Finance Funds.

The Illinois Department of Transportation received 332 project applications requesting over $441 million, and Effingham’s application was accepted based on the high level of interest in its downtown program.

Mayor Lange said past and present efforts aimed at sprucing up the downtown area have been successful, and he hopes these efforts will continue in the future.

Over the past several years, city leaders and property owners have taken an active role in improving the downtown area, including the city’s creation of a Downtown Redevelopment Program that provides funds for property owners to make facade improvements to existing buildings. 

As a result of these joint efforts, several businesses in Downtown Effingham have received improvements, and the mayor hopes this trend will continue.