Nine miles of a Route 66 bicycle trail in McLean County, Illinois, will be completed with a state transportation grant, at the request of Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The $1.875 million grant will help pay for engineering and environmental reviews, along with design plans and specifications for the trail, reported WMBD. The grant replaces $675,000 in … Continue reading State grant will complete Route 66 bike trail near Bloomington after feds yanked funds
Tag: Bloomington
Feds pull $675,000 grant to extend Historic Route 66 Bike Trail in Bloomington area
The U.S. Department of Transportation yanked an awarded $675,000 grant to help plan and design the final three segments of the 47-mile Historic Route 66 Bike/Pedestrian Trail in the Bloomington-Normal area of Illinois. The grant was awarded more than a year ago, but the USDOT apparently reconsidered. The Bloomington Pantagraph reports: According to a letter … Continue reading Feds pull $675,000 grant to extend Historic Route 66 Bike Trail in Bloomington area
Nine new grants announced through Route 66 Black Experiences Program
The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership announced nine projects through the Route 66 Black Experiences Grants program that were awarded $5,000 each. The 2024 recipients and the cities where they are based are: Choctaw Freedman Citizenship Footprints Inc. in Oklahoma City Black Business Alliance in Bloomington, Illinois Threatt Filling Station Foundation in Luther, Oklahoma Jack … Continue reading Nine new grants announced through Route 66 Black Experiences Program
Illinois announces seven grants for projects along Route 66
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity this week announced seven awards, totaling $3.3 million, through the Route 66 Grant Program. This funding is intended to boost local tourism and attract visitors to Route 66, leading up to the 100th anniversary of the highway in 2026, according to a … Continue reading Illinois announces seven grants for projects along Route 66
Illinois Route 66 concert tour organized by Frankie Valli’s longtime music director
Robby Robinson, a keyboardist and music director for Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons since 1978 and a native of the Route 66 town of Litchfield, Illinois, has organized the "Get Your Kicks Tour '23 -- A Musical Trip Down Route 66" in October. The tour includes guitarist Vinny Martell of Vanilla Fudge, Travis Cloer … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 concert tour organized by Frankie Valli’s longtime music director
Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference announces full schedule
The eighth annual Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference will be Oct. 19-22 in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, with the theme “The Great American Road Trip” and four days of speakers, tours, museums, networking, plus musical and movie entertainment. In a nod to this year's hosts, Thursday's events will be at the McLean County Museum of History … Continue reading Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference announces full schedule
Keynote speakers announced for 2023 Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference
The organizers for the Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference, scheduled for Oct. 19-22 in Bloomington-Normal, announced the keynote speakers for the event a few days ago. The theme for the eighth conference will be "The Great American Road Trip," and the speeches will be on Oct. 20-21. The conference will be headquartered at the … Continue reading Keynote speakers announced for 2023 Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference
Illinois awards $6.6M in Route 66 and tourism marketing grants
The governor of Illinois and the state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced last week it would give 58 awards totaling $6.6 million through the Route 66 and Tourism Marketing Grant Programs to boost Route 66 tourism. The Route 66 grant program is awarding $3.7 million to seven recipients for the development of tourism, … Continue reading Illinois awards $6.6M in Route 66 and tourism marketing grants
Several Illinois Route 66 sites get state funds from tourism, transportation programs
Several spots on Route 66 in Illinois were among the 89 that will receive a total of $22.5 million from the state's Tourism Attractions and Festivals Grant program. Also, several Route 66 sites also received funds from the state's Transportation Enhancement Program. Here are the Route 66-related tourism recipients and the total grant: $25,187 to … Continue reading Several Illinois Route 66 sites get state funds from tourism, transportation programs
Elmo Quinn, owner of Quinn’s Shell station in Bloomington, dies at 82
Elmo Quinn, the former owner of Quinn's Shell station along Route 66 in Bloomington, Illinois, died Wednesday. He was 82. Quinn was so beloved for his kindness, he was known as the "Mayor of Main Street," according to a story in the Bloomington Pantagraph. Quinn's welcoming personality and community insight helped establish his mayoral nickname, … Continue reading Elmo Quinn, owner of Quinn’s Shell station in Bloomington, dies at 82