Downtown Rockford venues receive $4 million for capital improvements

Staff Report

Rockford Area Venues and Entertainment (RAVE) has been awarded a $4 million grant by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

The grant is to be used for capital improvements to downtown Rockford entertainment venues including the BMO Harris Bank Center, Davis Memorial Festival Park and the Coronado Performing Arts Center.

The grant funding is part of Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn’s $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program, which is expected to create more than 439,000 construction jobs over six years. The program is improving the state’s fresh water supplies, advancing high-speed rail, improving parks and libraries, repairing roads, building bridges and renovating hospitals and schools.

From the Jan. 16-22, 2013, issue