Downtown EM could get federal funds for improvements

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By Dustin Lemmon | Sunday, July 13, 2008 |

Efforts to revitalize downtown East Moline could get a $250,000 boost in the coming year under a funding proposal from U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin.

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved $57 million in Transportation and Economic Development funding for Illinois last week, which includes East Moline’s share.

The funds could be used to acquire and renovate dilapidated structures and for regional marketing and promotion, said Christina Mulka, Durbin’s press secretary.

She said Durbin expects the funding to promote “economic development and cultural diversity and will create jobs, reduce crime and foster renewed civic pride.”

Alderwoman Cheri Bustos, Ward 4, said the funding would help with ongoing efforts to improve the downtown. For several months, Bustos and downtown business owners have met regularly to brainstorm different promotions and improvements to the area.

“I think this is the start of something great for our city,” Bustos said. “We have a great group of business owners who want nothing more than for us to succeed. This is really what we need to get the ball rolling.”

Bustos said the money could be used for street scaping and enhancing the downtown’s new Global Harvest theme. She hopes it helps improve the look and feel of the downtown.

Mulka noted that the funding still has to pass several stages before final approval and will next go to the full Senate for consideration. Although it’s a long process, she said the committee’s approval is a significant step.

East Moline Mayor John Thodos said the money would give the city more latitude when trying to purchase land and in demolishing various structures.

“I think it sends a very strong signal,” he said. “We were one of only three communities in Illinois selected” for economic development initiatives.

Thodos commended Bustos and downtown business leaders for their work to bring more activities downtown. Recent projects include the renovation of the Strand Theatre and the production of a flier promoting downtown activities planned for this summer.

The city has been using a special service area tax, which is $1.35 per $100 of equalized assessed valuation and generates $60,000 annually, to improve facades and parking lots downtown. Thodos said the federal funding would cover costs too expensive to be covered by those tax revenues.

Last month, the city won a court battle with some downtown business owners opposed to the three-year-old tax, who questioned the city’s ability to tax them indefinitely under the special service area designation.

Thodos said the committee’s approval proves the city’s efforts to revitalize the downtown have paid off.

“It shows we’ve been working very hard, and the only thing we’ve been lacking is funding,” he said.

Dustin Lemmon can be contacted at (563) 383-2493 or dlemmon@qctimes.com.