Lockport Receives $119K State Grant For Industrial Site

LOCKPORT, IL — The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has announced the recipients of the second round of the Regional Site Readiness program, which includes an industrial site in Lockport, according to a news release.

The City of Lockport will receive $119,600 for infrastructure assessment and topographic surveying to serve a 146-acre industrial site, a news release states.

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"The Regional Site Readiness program is an investment for future development – developments that are larger than just the land they sit on," State Sen. Rachel Ventura said in a release. "This program invests in infrastructure and economic development that will leave a lasting impact for generations."

Village Administrator Ben Benson said the grant is for the City's STAR Innovation District. The grant will fully fund the engineering design for the second entrance off of New Avenue.

The Regional Site Readiness Program "aims to better prepare sites for industrial development across the state through more flexible funding to support the construction and infrastructure improvements necessary for future development," a news release states.

"The State's investments in the Regional Site Readiness Program are preparing sites for business across all 10 of our Economic Development Regions," said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. "With double the funding available for the program, this second round of grants is supporting 30 grantees across Illinois as they ready their sites for business attraction and development."

The City of Lockport was previously awarded $3 million through the program, for water and sewer infrastructure improvements, also for the STAR innovation district.

Benson said the City has also received a Surface Transportation Program grant to signalize the Archer and New Avenue in 2030. That grant was for $1.8 million, and the City will contribute $462,000.