The designation of Springfield’s Southtown area as a State Cultural District will provide access to part of $3 million dollars in grant money to help revitalize the area. President of the Springfield Project and Black Chamber of Commerce Dominic Watson says Southtown is home to one of the busiest corridors in the city, and the area is a “beacon of hope”.
Governor Pritzker launched the State Cultural District program in September 2023 and invited communities, towns, or specific geographic areas that have a distinct shared historical and cultural identity to apply for the program. Southtown is one of 10 areas chosen to receive the designation. The Southtown area, according to Watson, includes from the 10th Street rail project to 19th Street and from Pine Street to Edwards Street.
The economic development aspect of the designation is “about capacity building, incubating and accelerating” businesses in the area and “taking it to the next level”, says Watson. Housing is also a priority, and Watson says the Neighborhood of Hope project will be revived and plan for a comprehensive housing redevelopment project will be included.