Press Releases

BLOOMINGTON – State Senator Dave Koehler is excited to share that nearly $500,000 is coming to Bloomington-Normal to promote local tourism, attract international visitors and enhance destinations along historic Route 66.

“Route 66 has connected people to communities like ours for a century, and its anniversary gives us an incredible opportunity to introduce even more visitors to everything Bloomington-Normal has to offer,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “These investments will help preserve the character and history that make our region special while bringing more visitors through the doors of our local restaurants, shops and attractions.”

In total, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity awarded $4.6 million to 49 tourism organizations across the state through three tourism investment grant programs.

Through the Route 66 Grant Program, the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau will receive $351,794 to support nine projects along the historic highway. The investments will preserve and enhance attractions along the roadway, including restoration of Lexington’s historic Oasis Drive-In sign and site and continued restoration of Sprague’s Super Service in Normal, one of the county’s best-known Route 66 landmarks. Funding will also support visitor amenities, public art, improvements to electric vehicle charging infrastructure and dog watering stations at Bloomington’s Miller Park.

The Bloomington-Normal Area CVB will receive an additional $51,806 through the International Tourism Grant Program to promote the region to travelers abroad. Funding will support international digital advertising, radio and podcast placements in Germany, travel trade tours from the United Kingdom, media tours and outreach to tour operators.

Further, the Bloomington-Normal Area CVB will receive $92,500 through the Tourism Marketing Partnership Grant Program to produce professional destination marketing videos showcasing the region’s attractions, events, Route 66 heritage, arts and culture, and other unique visitor experiences.

“Tourism is economic development,” Koehler said. “When we give people another reason to visit Bloomington-Normal and spend time here, they support our small businesses, generate economic activity and help share the story of Central Illinois with people from around the country and the world.”

More information and a full list of grant recipients can be found here.

PEORIA – State Senator Dave Koehler is encouraging eligible fire departments and ambulance services to apply for funding through the Small Equipment Grant Program.

“Fire departments provide an essential service to our community,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “There is no question that this funding helps our first responders operate more efficiently. We want to ensure they have all the tools necessary to get the job done safely and in time to assist those in need.”

The Small Equipment Grant Program assists fire departments and nonprofit ambulance services in Illinois, particularly those experiencing difficulty in generating the necessary revenue for small equipment. The grants allow eligible applicants the opportunity to purchase small tools and equipment they may otherwise not be able to afford.

A total of $6 million in funding is available through this year’s program to support eligible fire departments and EMS services. Previously, 264 fire departments, fire protection districts and EMS providers across the state were provided nearly $6 million.

All interested departments and ambulance services must submit applications electronically utilizing the application portal that can be found on the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s website.

PEORIA – The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced the recipients of the second round of the Regional Site Readiness program. Two projects in State Senator Dave Koehler’s district will receive a combined $3.15 million to prepare sites for future industrial development.

“Preparing sites for future business investment is one of the best ways we can strengthen our regional economy and create good-paying jobs,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “These grants will help ensure our communities are ready to attract new employers, expand economic opportunity and support long-term growth across central Illinois.”

The Central Illinois Regional Airport Authority was awarded $3 million through the Capital Ready Grants Program for road construction to serve a 51-acre industrial development site at the airport. Additionally, Peoria County received a $150,000 Planning Grant to support site planning and infrastructure improvement assessments for a 53-acre industrial site.

The Regional Site Readiness Program aims to better prepare sites for industrial development across the state through flexible funding that supports planning, construction and infrastructure improvements needed for future development. A total of $35 million was awarded to projects across Illinois.

The program includes two competitive funding opportunities: Planning Grants to support due diligence activities, studies and site plans, and Capital Ready Grants to support capital infrastructure improvements.

“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.”

For a full list of grant recipients, click here.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Dave Koehler’s House Bill 4509 designed to improve nursing home mental health evaluations has become law.

“Careful care of our most vulnerable population sends a clear message that even as you age, our state will allow you to do so with grace and dignity,” said Koehler (D-Peoria) “This law ensures that those who are in nursing home care living with a serious mental illness receive the proper help and mental health review so they can return to a life of comfort without being a threat to those around them.”

The new law requires the Illinois Department of Human Services or a designee to visit any individual admitted to a nursing home with a diagnosis of serious mental illness within 60 days of admission. It would also require a resident review within 72 hours when a resident with serious mental illness experiences a significant change in their physical or mental health. 

The law also require IDHS to ensure there are no conflicts of interest among the employees administering pre-admission screenings. The goal is to give families the confidence that the residents are being evaluated fairly and appropriately.

“When our elderly members of the community are placed in a nursing home, families except peace of mind that they are being cared for,” said Koehler “We hope that with this bill becoming law that families can rest easier at night knowing residents’ mental health needs are being met.”

House Bill 4509 was signed into law Thursday.