Rock Island city officials lobbied federal officials for funding of several city projects.
Rock Island city officials recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with federal officials and lobby for funding in support of several city projects.
Mayor Mike Thoms was joined by Community and Economic Development Director Miles Brainard, Community Development Manager Nichole Mata and former Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, who is now co-chair of Mercury, a public strategy firm.
The group met with Illinois Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin; Congressmen Eric Sorensen and Darin LaHood; Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia Fudge and other HUD officials, who were all willing to listen to the needs of the City of Rock Island.
Requests included funding for reconstruction of 11th Street, housing rehabilitation and new development projects, and a request for FEMA grants to install electric pump stations for use during flooding events.
“It is my hope that meeting with federal officials in person will strengthen our requests for funding of major city projects,” Mayor Thoms said. “We are always working together to find ways to ease the financial burden from taxpayers as we strive to make needed infrastructure improvements in the City.”