The City of Bloomington has been awarded a $2 million grant from the state of Illinois to help with a redesign of downtown.
The city plans to soon start the first phase of its streetscape program, upgrading the 300 to 600 blocks of North Main Street from Jefferson to Locust streets.
City manager Jeff Jurgens said in a post on social media that portion of the project will involve "replacing outdated infrastructure, upgrading lighting, adding landscaping, and creating the new North Main Plaza.
"Downtown is the heart of our city — and we’re committed to making sure it thrives. This grant will help us make real, visible improvements that honor our historic core while positioning us for future growth."
He added that bids for this first phase are due to be submitted to the city within days.
A study the city released last year put the overall price tag for the streetscape project at nearly $60 million, done in phases over many years.
Gov. JB Pritzker announced the rollout of state grant awards totaling $30 million for 25 grantees through the Rebuild Illinois Downtowns and Main Streets and Research in Illinois to Spur Economic Recovery programs.
The grants are intended to fund the revitalization of downtown areas statewide and accelerate local economic initiatives.
Pritzker said he hopes to “reverse decades of neglect and broken promises and bring jobs, opportunity, and hope back to communities across Illinois, while breathing new life into our downtown corridors and beyond.”