Construction Updates
City of East Moline Awarded $2 Million Grant for Greater Downtown Revitalization
Major Investment to Enhance Infrastructure, Boost Local Economy, and
Transform East Moline’s “Main Street” into a Pedestrian-Friendly Destination
EAST MOLINE, Ill. — The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced today that the City of East Moline has been awarded a $2 million grant to support the reconstruction and streetscaping of 15th Avenue. This investment will help create a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly “Main Street” as part of the City’s Greater Downtown Revitalization Project.
This project will reconstruct 15th Avenue between 6th Street and 13th Street, incorporating new streetscaping, widened sidewalks, and accessibility improvements to make the corridor more inviting for residents, visitors, and businesses. A key feature will be a new “festival street” between 7th and 9th Streets, designed to accommodate outdoor events, food trucks, and gatherings with a pedestrian-friendly layout.
This grant – made available through DCEO’s Rebuilding Downtowns and Main Streets capital grant program – will supplement existing federal funding for improvements to 15th Avenue, 7th Street, 12th Avenue, and at The Bend that will work together to create a better-connected Greater Downtown. The original $23.7 million federal grant was announced by Senators Durbin and Duckworth, as well as former Representative Cheri Bustos, in 2022.
“The revitalization of 15th Avenue and all of downtown is a transformational project for East Moline,” said Mayor Reggie Freeman. “This grant allows us to leverage the RAISE grant we received to make an even greater impact to support local businesses, attract new investment, and enhance quality of life for residents and visitors alike. Thank you to Governor Pritzker, Senator Halpin, and Representative Johnson for their support of this critical project.”
The project will also incorporate green infrastructure to reduce surface runoff, improve pedestrian lighting for safety, and install wayfinding signage to better link downtown attractions. Additionally, a new gateway feature at 7th Street and 15th Avenue will welcome visitors to the heart of downtown. These improvements were originally identified in the City’s downtown master plan and further refined through public meetings in 2024.
While construction on the first phase of the Greater Downtown Revitalization kicked off last week at The Bend, construction on the 15th Avenue improvements will begin this summer and is expected to be completed in 2026. For further information, please visit downtowneastmoline.com.
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