Lincoln - He's Just on Fire!

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum really has started to attract money to the area. Last week we got the news that Governor Blagojevich was seeking money needed for Springfield’s Capitol Avenue improvement project.

On April 13, Blagojevich announced a $1.5 million state grant to the city
of Springfield to design, plan and secure rights of way for the Capitol Avenue
redevelopment. Spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch said Thursday that the planning phase should be complete by mid-2006.

“We have some ideas that we’ll announce shortly to build on the success
of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum,” Blagojevich said.

“We may contemplate more resources from the state, but we’d also like
to get some more money here from Washington as well.”

Now, Senator Dick Durbin and Congressman Ray Lahood are looking to create an Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area.

Central Illinois needs to build on the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and
Museum by connecting the places where the 16th president spent his formative
years, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin told representatives from the region at the library
Monday.

Durbin, a Springfield Democrat, wants communities in 42 counties to brainstorm ideas for how to link central Illinois’ Lincoln sites.

“We have momentum,” the senator said. “We can help our region of the state
economically, create jobs, bring a greater source of pride about our heritage.
One dream I have as a part of this is to tell the whole Lincoln story. People
have told pieces. The story, a big part of it, is in Springfield. But a big part
of it is in your communities.”

Durbin and U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Peoria, have introduced legislation in the Senate and the House that would create the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area.

Durbin hopes to secure $10 million that would be spent over a 10-year period.

The House Bill sponsored by Lahood and co-sponsored by several from the Illinois Congressional deligation can be viewed here.

Abe-A-Palooza rolls on. Chuh-Ching.