State Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) is applauding new “creative placemaking initiative” grants from the Delta Regional Authority (DRA), in partnership with national arts and government organizations, that will provide investments in local arts and culture in two 59th District towns.
“Preserving the historical and cultural significance of local landmarks, while renovating and breathing new life into them is a really great thing for our area. I want to thank the Delta Regional Authority for their continued investment in southern Illinois,” said Sen. Fowler who has had a close working relationship with the DRA as Mayor of Harrisburg and since joining the Illinois State Senate. Fowler graduated from the DRA Delta Leadership Institute in 2009 and is currently a member of the DRA Delta Leadership Network.
2017 Creative Placemaking Investments in the 59th District include:
City of Metropolis: DRA Investment: $22,000. Total Investment: $60,000. In partnership with Save the Massac, the city will renovate the Massac Theatre to become a multi-use facility for the community, giving it new purpose while preserving its historical and cultural significance to the area.
Village of Equality: DRA Investment: $20,000. Total Investment: $105,000. In partnership with the Equality Federated Tuesday Club, the village will rehabilitate a vacant building located on Main Street to establish a regional cultural arts center that promotes tourism and business development opportunities for entrepreneurs, small-business owners, and local artists.
To provide the grants, the DRA has partnered with leading national arts and government organizations to ensure the success and long-term sustainability of its creative placemaking initiative. Through the initiative, Delta communities are given access to experts and additional resources to ensure projects succeed.
Partners include The Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI), Art of the Rural, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Association of Counties (NACo), the National Association of Development Organizations, McClure Engineering Company, Springboard for the Arts, ArtPlace America, the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, and the Smithsonian Institution, among others.