Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway awards $5,000 in grants to various projects

The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway announced Thursday it has awarded grants totaling $5,000 to byway members for various projects.

These are the grant awardees:

• Sky View Drive-In theater in Litchfield, Illinois: $1,000 to help repaint its screen;
• Old Joliet Prison in Joliet, Illinois: $1,000 to build a series of informative and interpretative banners and signage throughout the site;
• City of Atlanta, Illinois: $1,000 to create interpretive panels for the Atlanta Coal Mining Company Historic Mine;
• Henry’s Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, Illinois: $750 to replace three of four outdoor sign panels;
• Village of Elkhart, Illinois: $750 to advertise and support its June 12 ribbon-cutting for the village’s native plant and
  pollinator habitat.
• City of Edwardsville, Illinois: $500 to add photo opportunities, selfie stops and backdrop props during the Edwardsville Route 66 Festival on June 12.

Early this year, the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway developed its Byway Project Funds program to provide assistance to byway members. The funds are meant to support events, marketing and advertising efforts, and projects that help preserve the heritage of Illinois Route 66 and promote travel to Illinois Route 66 communities and sites.

(Hat tip to Brian Gregory; image of the Skyview Drive-In by J Turner via Flickr)