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There's been a lot of activity at City Hall and throughout our community, and it's been an incredibly productive year so far. We are fortunate to have a City administration that is committed to being positive, proactive, and focused on moving Marseilles forward in ways that benefit our residents. None of this would be possible without the dedication of our administrative staff, who work diligently to gather the information and supporting documentation needed for grant applications.
Together, we organize everything required before submitting it to our grant writers at NCICG. Thanks to this collaborative effort, Marseilles has been awarded more than $9 million in grant funding over the past 10 years. These grants have helped fund important community projects while reducing the financial burden on our local taxpayers.
The CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Grant application continues to move forward.
Thanks to the generosity of local supporters, the City has secured $20,000 in private matching funds, earning the maximum number of points available in the grant scoring process.
Pledge letters have been received from:
- Ottawa Savings Bank – $5,000
- Etscheid & Duttlinger Engineering – $5,000
- Jim & Sheila Hollenbeck – $2,500
- Marseilles Bank – $2,500
- City of Marseilles – $5,000
The next step is the Public Hearing, which will be held on Tuesday, July 15, at 6:00 p.m. at Marseilles City Hall, 200 Riverfront Drive.
If you completed an income survey and returned it to NCICG, your attendance at the public hearing is strongly encouraged. Resident participation is an important part of the application process and can help the City earn additional points toward the grant.
The City continues to make progress on its Brownfield Grant, which is focused on addressing environmental concerns at both the former Washington School and the Nabisco property. During the week of June 15, Fehr Graham completed an on-site environmental inspection of the Nabisco property. The City will receive a comprehensive report detailing the findings.
The City is also preparing a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application to request funding for asbestos remediation and the demolition of the former Washington School. As with previous grant applications, community support is an important part of the process. The City is seeking at least 15 letters of support from residents, businesses, and organizations that would like to see the building removed.
One concept being considered for a portion of the property is a new playground, which would provide recreational opportunities for children on the west side of Main Street, where no public playground currently exists.
Letters of support may be mailed to:
Mayor Jim Hollenbeck
200 Riverfront Drive
Marseilles, IL 61341
In addition, the City is exploring an OSLAD grant to replace and upgrade the playground equipment at Knudson Park while adding a few new amenities. Much of the existing equipment is original to the park, and several pieces are beyond repair. The City has authorized a preliminary grant application to develop a design concept and cost estimate. Once those estimates are received, the City will determine whether to move forward with the full grant application.
The new restroom facility for Broadway Park has been delivered and installed. Electrical and water service connections are scheduled to be completed next week.
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