By ANDREW HENSEL for the Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (IRN) — Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the next phase of his Rebuild Illinois Plan, including over $100 million in construction grants aimed for commercial corridors in 50 downtowns.
The projects are part of the $34.6 billion Rebuild Illinois plan that’s paid for with tax and fee increases, including a doubling of the state’s gas tax in 2019.
Pritzker announced the investments during a news conference at AltonWorks, in Alton. Pritzker said that Alton would be one of the 50 towns in Illinois to receive funding.
The infrastructure investment doubles the previous year’s investment, Pritzker said.
“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 and, in turn, bettering the quality of life for our state’s residents,” said Pritzker.
The state’s $106 million spend will be matched by the federal tax dollars bringing the total to over $200 million in funding.
Pritzker laid out some things that will be happening across the state as part of this next investment in infrastructure.
“This means that Broadway Avenue in Aurora, the Times Theatre in Rockford, Simmons street in Galesburg, the Opera House in Woodstock, and many more are all going to be getting makeovers,” Pritzker said.
Last week the state announced another $20 billion of transportation investments for the Rebuild Illinois plan, including 2,500 miles of roads and nearly 10 million square feet of the bridge deck.
Funding for the $34.6 billion plan has come from a raise of the motor fuel tax per gallon from 19 cents to 38 cents in 2019, and increases in the special fuels tax on diesel fuel, liquefied natural gas, or propane by 5 cents per gallon.
