Peoria County to deploy $230,270 energy-transition grant toward housing, business and downtown projects

Peoria County announced it received $230,270 in energy-transition grant funding tied to the state’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act and outlined proposed projects to use the FY25 award.

“ We did apply for funding and we received $230,270,” Planning and Zoning Director Andrew Braun said when he opened the informational item. Braun said the grant is guaranteed for five years following the Ameren Edwards facility closure and may extend a sixth year.

Staff proposed several uses for the FY25 allocation: $20,000 as a match for a DCEO Community Development Assistance Program housing rehabilitation grant; $50,000 to Distillery Labs for accelerated business engagement and facility improvements; $25,000 to the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council for half of a business manager position; $25,000 to Discover Peoria for marketing and promotional support; and $87,000 to a Downtown Development Corporation revolving loan fund intended to help reclassify and renovate underused downtown office space.

Braun said the $20,000 DCEO match would increase competitiveness for that grant. He introduced Brittney Eason as the department’s senior planner and the proposed grant manager: “She will be the grant manager for this project.”

Braun said staff would be happy to discuss additional proposals and provide historical context from the 2023 and 2024 grant cycles. Committee members thanked staff and supported moving forward with the public meeting and solicitation steps required by the grant conditions.

Staff noted that the award requires soliciting project proposals from the community and holding a public meeting; placing the informational item on the executive committee agenda satisfies those grant conditions. The committee received the update as an informational item.