SPRINGFIELD – Building on her strong support to bring economic development to Central Illinois, State Senator Doris Turner advanced a package through the Senate to revitalize downtown Springfield.
“I’ve been working with local leaders for four years to find a solution to spur economic development in downtown Springfield,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “This plan would do just that. Expanding the Bank of Springfield Center and bringing a headquartered hotel to downtown would create jobs, support small businesses in the area, boost the local economy and breathe new life into downtown.”
House Bill 4496 is a package of economic development initiatives and proposals for the city of Springfield that would promote business, industry, commerce and tourism in Springfield, Sangamon County and Illinois. The Capital City Downtown Medical District would have the authority to construct housing, educational buildings and research facilities. The Capital Area Tourism Authority would exercise certain economic development powers to finance and fund the development and construction of a new convention center hotel and the expansion of the existing Bank of Springfield Convention Center.
To meet the revitalization goals, House Bill 4496 would:
- Establish the Capital Area Tourism Authority, allowing it to exercise certain economic development powers.
- Rename the Mid-Illinois Medical District to the Capital City Downtown Medical District and expand the current boundaries of the medical district from Madison Street to South Grand Avenue, excluding the area designated as part of the master planning area for the Capitol complex.
- Establish a new capital city construction jobs income tax credit and a historical building rehab tax credit.
“The passage of House Bill 4496 will strengthen Springfield’s Downtown and Medical District by creating a substantive mechanism for implementing the Downtown and Medical District Master Plan,” said Mid-Illinois Medical District Commissioner and Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln President and CEO John Stremsterfer. “This is good public policy that will benefit the Capital City for generations to come.”
House Bill 4496 passed the Senate Sunday and heads to the House for concurrence.
