State Funding Released for Effingham Street Extension, Utility Improvements for Industrial Growth (CORRECTING TRUCKING OPERATION)

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Published on September 21 2021 2:33 pm
Last Updated on September 22 2021 8:44 am
Written by Greg Sapp

State funding has been announced for a street extension and utility improvement project that will allow economic development in Effingham.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Tuesday announced $1,464,019 has been allocated for Effingham. The funds will help pay for an extension of Thies Avenue at John Boos and Company. 

Effingham City Administrator Steve Miller said Thies Avenue will be extended west, and then north. The work will facilitate a planned expansion of the metal plant at John Boos. 

Effingham City Economic Development Director Todd Hull said the extension of Thies Avenue will also provide access to the large tract of property to the north of the Boos plant purchased by the City last year from the Hawickhorst Land Trust. Some of that property is being targeted for an alternative energy project, with the remainder being made available for economic development.

The City and County have also joined forces on seeking the funding, since the project will facilitate improvements to Airport Road, including better access to the new Hetzel's Overland Transport, Poverty Trucking and Central Illinois Warehousing and Logistics operation near Effingham County Memorial Airport.

Miller said the receipt of the funding will allow the project to be finalized, with the hope that it will be under construction when the construction season arrives in 2022.