EAST MOLINE, ILLINOIS (January 31, 2025) — The City of East Moline has been awarded a $128,000 grant through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) Regional Site Readiness planning program.
The funding will support development efforts for the I-80/I-88 Industrial Site, a strategically-located parcel of land in the southeast quadrant of the interstate intersection, north of the Rock River, and approximately seven miles from downtown East Moline. The ultimate goal of this planning-grant is to move towards the federal processes to remove acres from the floodplain and make them development-ready for industrial users.
“This grant is a tremendous step forward in our ongoing efforts to attract industrial development and investment to East Moline,” said Mayor Reggie Freeman. “Preparing the I-80/I-88 Industrial Site for industrial use is a priority, and this funding allows us to take meaningful action toward unlocking its full potential, attracting businesses, creating jobs, and strengthening our local economy. With the support of the Illinois DCEO, REDEEM, and the Quad Cities Chamber, we are making strategic investments to ensure our community remains competitive and ready for future economic growth.”
The City of East Moline will provide a $30,000 matching grant and REDEEM will provide a $2,000 grant for this project.
Site-readiness has been a regional priority for the Quad Cities Chamber for the past few years with ongoing advocacy efforts to ensure sites are prepared for economic development opportunities. The Chamber played a key role in securing this grant, assisting in the application process and engaging with DCEO early in the program’s development.
“The Quad Cities Chamber has been actively championing site readiness as a critical economic driver for the region,” said Julie Forsythe, Senior Vice President of Business and Economic Growth for the Chamber. “This funding is a testament to the collaborative efforts between the City of East Moline, REDEEM, and regional stakeholders to position our communities for future investment.”
The Chamber has been advocating for site readiness by working with legislators, commissioning a regional site-readiness study conducted by Hickey Global, a full-service economic-development consulting firm, and sharing grant opportunities with Illinois partners to advance strategic site development.
This grant marks a step forward in enhancing the economic competitiveness of East Moline and the broader Illinois Quad Cities region. Planning efforts for the I-80/I-88 Industrial Site will focus on infrastructure assessment, market analysis, and development strategies to attract business investment and job growth.
