The Village of Peoria Heights will retain a fundraising consultant in Washington, D.C. to help secure federal dollars and other assistance for various local projects, specifically the proposed reconstruction of Prospect Road through the village’s downtown.
Trustees voted unanimously on Oct. 18 to enter into a six-month contract with Cardinal Infrastructure, LLC for a sum of $7,500.
The arrangement was approved on the recommendation of Community Development Director Wayne Aldrich, who had worked with a partner in the firm, Anja Graves, in a previous position with the Town of Normal, specifically on projects in and around that community’s Uptown Normal.
Cardinal has developed important relationships in the nation’s capital over many years, including with Illinois’ congressional delegation, and brings specific expertise in the areas of transportation, parks and recreation, housing and neighborhood development, economic development initiatives, and emergency management services programs. Cardinal also assists communities with other legislative priorities and grant-writing.
The Village already has an earmark request for $2 million toward Phase 1 engineering work on Prospect with Congressman Darin LaHood’s office, which has passed the House and awaits approval in the Senate.
In an era of potentially diminishing federal influence for central Illinois – with redistricting, LaHood now represents only a tiny slice of the Heights, with most of the Village to be represented in the House by someone from the Quad Cities – the community arguably needs the extra help now in a way that perhaps it did not before, said Mayor Michael Phelan.
In addition to road work, the Village also has some high-dollar capital needs for its aging water system.
In other action/discussion:
The Village Board was provided an update regarding the services it is receiving from Discover Peoria – the former Peoria Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The Village contracted with Discover Peoria, which markets the region, in Dec. 2021 for $15,000 the first year, rising to $20,000 in the second year, which is upcoming. What that buys is an information outlet for the Village through Discover Peoria’s various online and traditional communication formats – which hopefully produces physical visits and spending at Heights establishments -- plus assistance with branding and discounted opportunities for local businesses to make the region aware of their existence.
In general, Village officials have been happy with the return on that investment.
“Reaching 30,000 (additional) people is a good return, in my opinion,” said Trustee Brandon Wisenburg.
“They have been wonderful to work with,” added Trustee Sarah DeVore, the Village’s liaison to Discover Peoria, who encouraged local businesses to take advantage of the exposure the agency can give them.
“I feel like it’s still an asset and I think it’s only going to get better.”
The Rock Island Greenway should be back open for business in the next few weeks following underground water pipe installation that detoured trail users for much of this fall season so far, reported Public Works Superintendent Chris Chandler.
Work on a new, fully accessible playground in Tower Park has been postponed until next spring, when the weather will be more conducive to construction. The Together We Play project represents a partnership between the Village and St. Thomas Catholic Grade School, with the student-led initiative and predominantly private fundraising project aiming to provide a new recreational opportunity for all, including those with disabilities.