Princeton City Council approves resolution to support $2.1 million grant application

The Princeton City Council approved Monday the second reading of a resolution to support an application for a $2.1 million Rebuild Downtown and Main Streets Capital Rebuild Grant.

The city is in the process of applying for the funds, which will go to revitalize Rotary (formerly known as Darius Miller) Park and the surrounding Amtrak depot area.

The grant will fund projects including streetscaping, lighting, landscaping, parking lot pavement, among other items.

The grant is designed to revitalize small and rural communities, particularly those heavily affected by COVID-19.

The city increases its chances of getting funding if business owners within the city write letters, which can be submitted at City Hall, describing how they have been affected by the pandemic and what ways revitalizing downtown will help to support their businesses and the city as a whole.

City Manager Theresa Wittenauer advised the council to dedicate $100,000 from the city, which she said is a small amount to put forward for a return of a possible $2.1 million in funding. There is no minimum price match required by municipalities she said but the city will be required to dedicate $75,000 of in-kind work, which most likely would be done by the street department.

The city hopes to have its application submitted by December.

Ali Braboy, of North Central Illinois Council of Governments, told the council about $50 million in grants will be awarded throughout the state.