Lt. Governor Quinn accepts a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for Illinois Main Street

Link: http://www.standingupforillinois.org/feature.php?id=375

QUINCY - September 25, 2008. Lt. Governor Pat Quinn announced on Thursday that Illinois Main Street has received a Rural Community Development Initiative Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture.

The grant is for a total of $219,800 over the next three years, and it will allow Illinois Main Street to create its Rural Development Initiative.  Illinois Main Street will contribute $183,950 in matching funds during the three-year period.

"The Main Street program helps communities develop a welcoming downtown area that reflects the Illinois quality of life," Quinn said.  "The grant from the USDA will help Main Street encourage citizens throughout the Land of Lincoln to create downtown spaces that are sources of pride." 

The Main Street Rural Development Initiative's expanded program will serve 18 communities across the state including: Beardstown, Benton, Canton, Carbondale, DuQuoin, Golconda, Hardin County, Hoopeston, Marion, Marshall, Mount Sterling, Mt. Vernon, Paris, Pittsfield, Quincy, Rossville, Vandalia, and Vienna.

The grant will expand Illinois Main Street's curriculum to include dedicated technical assistance and education services to rural communities.  The services will consist of affordable housing workshops and webinars, small business retailing workshops, energy audits, and assessment visits. 

Quinn was joined by USDA Rural Development State Director Doug Wilson, who presented a check to Main Street.

Illinois Main Street represents one of the state's most effective public-private partnerships for economic development and community renewal.  Since the program's inception, designated communities have reported net gains of more than 1,600 new downtown businesses and created more than 6,000 new full and part-time jobs.  The Main Street program has spurred the reinvestment of more than $575 million in Main Street downtowns.

Illinois is one of 40 states participating in the National Main Street program, administered through the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  The Lt. Governor's Office administers the Illinois Main Street program, now the fourth largest in the nation, with architectural assistance from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.  There are more than 60 communities in the Illinois Main Street program.  

For more information about the Illinois Main Street program, please visit IllinoisMainStreet.org.