Governor JB Pritzker announced this week that the City of Pana will receive $1.245 million in state grant funding to transform a downtown lot into a vibrant outdoor event space. Nokomis will also receive $330,000. These awards are part of a broader $30 million initiative through the Rebuild Illinois Downtowns and Main Streets (RDMS) and Research in Illinois to Spur Economic Recovery (RISE) programs.
The three-parcel development in downtown Pana will include ADA-compliant restrooms, outdoor seating, and utility hook-ups for food trucks—enhancements aimed at boosting local tourism and economic activity.
Nokomis will see The Downtown Streetscape & Beautification Project install a storefront ADA sidewalk along Illinois Route 16 (W. State St.) from S. Spruce Street to Pine Street.
Other cities in the area that received grants included Effingham ($373,000), Jacksonville ($2,000,000), Springfield ($1,999,251), and Hillsboro ($749,275).
Pana and Nokomis' projects were part of 25 selected statewide, focusing on infrastructure improvements and economic revitalization in historically underserved areas.
