On Monday, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity named the newest State-Designated Cultural Districts.
“Illinois is full of vibrant communities that help make us who we are,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I’m excited to announce our State-Designated Cultural Districts — communities, towns, and geographic areas that have a distinct shared historical and cultural identity that binds them together. Today’s designations aim to promote greater growth, development, and opportunities throughout our state’s cultural hubs and encourage them to flourish over the coming years.”
The program, which was launched in 2023, aims to focus on the unique contributions of historic cultural districts statewide.
“This is a celebration of our people and an investment in our future. If we fail to preserve the unique cultures that make Illinois so rich, we risk losing key pieces of our collective story,” said Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. “Through these designations, we are ensuring our children have spaces to learn from and engage with cultures outside their own.”
State-Designated Cultural Districts are communities, towns, or specific geographic areas that have a distinct shared historical and cultural identity that binds the community together.
Three districts were designated in central Illinois:
Champaign- North First Street Cultural District
Springfield- Central East Cultural District
Springfield- The Southtown Cultural District
According to DCEO, the 2025 recipients will be chosen with a focus on downstate and rural communities.
Recipients will be eligible to apply for $3 million in funding that will be tailored to fit the needs of individual Cultural Districts and support the goals of the program to foster economic development and help communities preserve their unique cultural identities.
“Bringing State-Designated Cultural Districts to Springfield is a monumental step in the right direction for the community and for the state,” said Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield). “These official designations are essential to preserving the history of our state, highlighting the legacy and significant contributions of Black Illinoisans from the Great Migration and onward.”
Click here to learn more about State-Designated Cultural Districts.