Durbin, Manzullo Announce $500,000 For West State Street Renaissance Projet
[ROCKFORD, IL] – The City of Rockford will receive an infusion of $500,000 in federal funds to pay for public infrastructure improvements needed for the Renaissance Project planned for Rockford’s west side, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and U.S. Representative Don Manzullo announced today.
Durbin and Manzullo worked together to secure the funding in the FY2010 Omnibus bill, which was signed into law last month. Each requested funding for the initiative in their respective chambers and were successful in getting funding in the final bill.
The funding will be used to help the City of Rockford pay for public infrastructure improvements (roads, sewer, stormwater and water) needed for the 57-acre mixed use Renaissance Project planned for Rockford’s west side. The $65 million development consists of a medical office building, ambulance facility, retail/restaurants, bank, pharmacy, and commercial office uses. Phase II of the development will include a $15 million fire station and training facility for the Rockford Fire Department. The initiative will provide much needed employment for west side residents as well as medical and urgent care currently not available in the area.
The infrastructure funding is the latest commitment Manzullo and Durbin have made to Rockford’s west side. In 2005, Manzullo and Durbin, along with then-Senator Barack Obama, teamed up to secure $6.6 million for the West State Street Corridor Reconstruction Project in the multi-year federal transportation funding bill. Those funds will help offset costs of the $50 million project, which will widen and reconstruct West State Street from Rockton Avenue to Springfield Avenue. Lighting, landscaping, sidewalks and a multi-use bike trail would be added throughout the expansion.
“Today’s bill provides a significant investment in Rockford’s economic future by creating jobs and developing infrastructure,” said Durbin. “I will continue to work with Congressman Manzullo to secure funding for projects that benefit Rockford and Northern Illinois.”
“These federal funds will go a long way to improve our residents’ lives on Rockford’s west side and help put people back to work where they belong,” Manzullo said. “I want to again thank Senator Durbin for his efforts to fight with me for this much needed federal funding for the people of Rockford.”