$5 million Illinois grant awarded to East Moline for I-80/I-88 industrial site

The City of East Moline has been awarded a $5 million Capital Ready Grant through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Regional Site Readiness Program to extend sanitary sewer service to the I-80/I-88 Industrial Site, according to a news release.

East Moline received the maximum award available through the program. The city’s project was one of 11 Capital Ready projects selected statewide and one of 22 total projects receiving about $35 million in planning and infrastructure funding announced by Governor JB Pritzker on Aug. 6. The state’s award identifies the project as a sewer infrastructure expansion serving a 50-acre industrial site within the broader I-80/I-88 development area.

“This $5 million investment represents a tremendous step forward in our efforts to prepare the I-80/I-88 Industrial Site for development,” said East Moline Mayor Reggie Freeman. “Extending sewer service will remove one of the most significant barriers to development and allow East Moline to compete for major manufacturing, distribution and industrial projects that can create quality jobs, expand our tax base and strengthen the economy of the entire Quad Cities region.”

“We are grateful to Gov. Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Sen. Mike Halpin, Rep. Gregg Johnson, Revitalize and Develop East Moline (REDEEM), and all of the local and regional partners who supported this application,” Freeman continued. “This award demonstrates what can be accomplished when state and local government, economic development organizations, property owners and utility partners work together toward a shared economic development vision.”

The city would like to specifically recognize REDEEM for its significant role in developing and preparing the successful Capital Ready Grant application. REDEEM worked with City staff and project partners to assemble the information, documentation and other materials supporting the request, the release says.

The project will provide sanitary sewer service to the I-80/I-88 Industrial Site, which currently lacks wastewater infrastructure. The city’s application identifies the absence of sewer service as the primary constraint preventing industrial development of the property. The broader project area encompasses approximately 200 acres southeast of the I-80/I-88 interchange and represents one of the largest contiguous industrial development opportunities in East Moline and the Illinois Quad Cities.

The proposed improvements include a gravity sanitary sewer collection system within the development area, a new lift station and approximately 18,000 linear feet of force main connecting the site to an existing 42-inch interceptor sewer in the East Moline wastewater system. The project will require both conventional trenching and directional boring, including crossings beneath Interstate 80 and Illinois Route 5.

Completing the sewer extension is expected to move the property from a develop-able site to a substantially more market-ready location. By installing the infrastructure in advance, the city estimates that it could reduce development timelines for prospective industrial users by 12 to 18 months while reducing engineering, permitting and utility-extension uncertainty.

Located at the intersection of two major interstate highways, the site offers access to the Quad Cities’ extensive manufacturing, transportation and logistics network. The regional economy includes more than 1,200 manufacturers, access to three Class I railroads, the Quad Cities International Airport and numerous Mississippi River barge terminals. The property is being positioned to attract advanced manufacturing, agricultural technology, food-processing, transportation, distribution and logistics projects.

The Capital Ready award builds upon an earlier DCEO Site Readiness Planning Grant that allowed the City and its engineering consultant, IMEG Corp., to complete floodplain modeling, wetland delineation, environmental review and preliminary infrastructure planning for the site. The new award allows East Moline to move from studying the property’s development challenges to constructing the infrastructure needed to address them.

The project is anticipated to be completed within about 24 months following execution of the grant agreement. Preliminary engineering, survey work, geotechnical investigation and permitting are expected during the first six months, followed by final design and bidding. Construction, testing and commissioning would occur during the remaining project period.
The East Moline City Council has committed to providing the required local match for the project, with the city’s contribution authorized at 20 percent, up to $1.25 million.

“This is a transformational infrastructure investment,” Freeman said. “It will help unlock the potential of a strategically located property, improve East Moline’s competitiveness and create opportunities for new businesses, new jobs and long-term economic growth.”

About the I-80/I-88 Industrial Site

The I-80/I-88 Industrial Site is southeast of the interstate interchange in East Moline. The property is zoned for general industrial use and is positioned near interstate highways, rail service, major electrical transmission infrastructure and the city’s water system. Extending sanitary sewer service is a critical step in preparing the property for industrial investment and future development.

About the Regional Site Readiness Program

The Illinois Regional Site Readiness Program provides competitive funding for planning, due diligence and infrastructure improvements that prepare properties for industrial development. The program is part of the State of Illinois’ broader Site Ready Illinois initiative to increase the number of development-ready sites, shorten project timelines and strengthen Illinois’ ability to attract major business investments.

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