ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Update: Among the highlights of Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms' State of the City address on Monday was his announcement that millions of dollars would invested in the downtown area throughout 2022.
Mayor Thoms said up to $7 million will go toward rejuvenating downtown Rock Island, with the millions coming from federal COVID-19 recovery funds and up to $3 million from a state grant.
Other areas in Rock Island that will be targeted for improvements include the 11th Street business district and areas in southwest Rock Island.
"We think it's going to be a great opportunity for the city to move forward in the next several years," Thoms said during his speech. "That money will last to do projects … (for) the next three to for years, (but) hopefully to continue on for many years past that."
A commitment for the funding must happen by 2024 and be spent by 2026.
Original: What does 2022 have in store for Rock Island? Mayor Mike Thoms will answer that question Monday afternoon during his State of the City address.
"The City of Rock Island has continued to meet and exceed a number of its goals in 2021," Thoms said in an announcement. "And (it) has great and exciting things coming in 2022."
The address will be delivered noon Monday during a joint meeting of the Rock Island Kiwanis and Rotary clubs at the Botanical Center in Rock Island.
This year, one of the biggest decisions facing the mayor's office will be how to spend $26 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds. Rock Island has already committed $2.5 million of the funds to renovating its downtown area.
A $20 million federal court house and $13 million YWCA building are also scheduled to be completed in 2022.
Thoms will deliver the address again during Monday night's Rock Island City Council meeting.
Watch the full council meeting here: