Members of Congress may request funding for specific projects in their communities, so long as the projects have a federal nexus and meet other requirements established by federal law, House Rules, and the Committee to ensure only high-quality projects are requested and funded. Congressman Darin LaHood is authorized to submit 15 submissions for approval for the 16th Congressional District of Illinois.
The following projects were submitted by Congressman Darin LaHood for consideration during the FY2025 Appropriations process and are listed in alphabetical order by project name.
Project Name: Dement Road Extension
Location of the Project: Rochelle, Illinois
Project Sponsor: City of Rochelle
Requested Amount: $5,000,000
Justification for use of funding: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the construction of a vital missing link of industrial roadway will connect the city’s interchange with Interstate 39 and the growing industrial and manufacturing corridor. The proposed multiuse trails/paths around the enlarged lake and along the proposed roadway extension will allow pedestrian and bicycle access to previously inaccessible employment and recreational areas and increase public and transportation safety.
Member Financial Disclosure Certification and Federal Nexus Statement
Project Name: Design & Constructing Air Cargo Road
Location of the Project: Bloomington, Illinois
Project Sponsor: Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority
Requested Amount: $4,500,000
Justification for use of funding: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the increased daily usage of the terminal’s only roadway surface by air cargo heavy- tractor-trailers has resulted in serious roadway safety issues for commercial passengers and significantly accelerated the deterioration of this roadway. The airport has experienced instances where accidents involving these trucks have nearly occurred because the terminal roadway was not built for this activity. Constructing this air cargo road will allow the Airport Authority to redirect this truck activity to a different road, and in turn, immediately improve traffic safety for all vehicles accessing the air cargo and passenger terminal areas.
Member Financial Disclosure Certification and Federal Nexus Statement
Project Name: Fargo Creek Flooding Mediation Project
Location of the Project: Dixon, Illinois
Project Sponsor: City of Dixon
Requested Amount: $6,386,672
Justification for use of funding: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because flooding along the Fargo Creek has led to devastating damage in Dixon's southwest side and has halted commercial growth in the area. The development of retention ponds will provide the City of Dixon with the necessary infrastructure and tools to adequately manage and reduce storm water, reduce the impact of flooding on the local business community, and protect the quality of water for Dixon residents. This project will also establish a critical connection point between the I-88 corridor, the Lee County Industrial Park, and the Wal-Mart Business Park. Connecting downtown Dixon to the Riverfront will open up an additional 3.31 acres for commercial development, aid the city’s economic growth capabilities, and increase future job opportunities for Central Illinois residents.
Member Financial Disclosure Certification and Federal Nexus Statement
Project Name: Fox Creek Road Bridge
Location of the Project: Bloomington, Illinois
Project Sponsor: City of Bloomington
Requested Amount: $2,000,000
Justification for use of funding: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it would address the growing infrastructure and safety needs of our rural communities in Illinois. Fox Creek Road serves as a vital transportation artery for both residents and businesses in the region, and the current condition of the road presents safety hazards due to congestion, inadequate lane configurations, and outdated infrastructure. Widening the existing road and replacing the bridge with a structure that conforms to modern safety standards will ensure individuals, families, and businesses in Central and Northwestern Illinois have a robust infrastructure system that provides a reliable, efficient, and safe transportation network.
Member Financial Disclosure Certification and Federal Nexus Statement
Project Name: Furrow Road Bridge Replacement
Location of the Project: Pekin, Illinois
Project Sponsor: Tazewell County
Requested Amount: $2,000,000
Justification for use of funding: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it would address safety concerns for a currently outdated and unsafe bridge in Tazewell County. The bridge serves a large agricultural area, and the ability for farmers to get their crops to market safely is fundamental to local agriculture in central Illinois. The project will provide further access and support for safe transportation of agricultural products and ensure the community has the necessary resources to properly maintain a vital transportation system.
Member Financial Disclosure Certification and Federal Nexus Statement
Project Name: Galena Road Industrial Park
Location of the Project: Peoria, Illinois
Project Sponsor: City of Peoria
Requested Amount: $1,000,000
Justification for use of funding: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will ensure the necessary infrastructure is in place to retain Peoria area community investment. The current lack of industrial buildings in the area prohibits businesses from growing, causing them to leave the Peoria area, which impacts jobs and other opportunities for constituents in my district. The improved infrastructure will provide a clear economic development benefit to the greater Peoria region through the creation of high paying jobs in growing industries employing a skilled workforce.
Member Financial Disclosure Certification and Federal Nexus Statement
Project Name: Lee County Highway Department Facility
Location of the Project: Amboy, Illinois
Project Sponsor: Lee County
Requested Amount: $4,900,200
Justification for use of funding: The project will increase the department’s capabilities to preserve and maintain 220 miles of road and bridges under its jurisdiction and allow the department to better serve Central Illinois’ growing infrastructure and safety needs.
Member Financial Disclosure Certification and Federal Nexus Statement
Project Name: Lift Station and Force Main Improvements Project
Location of the Project: South Beloit, Illinois
Project Sponsor: City of South Beloit
Requested Amount: $3,850,000
Justification for use of funding: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because this design alternative will allow the City to eliminate one of their lift station sites, while also limiting the length of the existing river crossing by moving to in a location that is not nearly as wide as the current force main crossing. The completion of this project will allow for the continued development of the west side of South Beloit, allow for continued sewer service for existing residents, and also create the ability for a future connection with the Village of Rockton’s Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). The ability to continue to allow development to occur in this area of the city will have significant positive impact to constituents in my district, along with the creation of a significant number of construction related jobs for the region.
Member Financial Disclosure Certification and Federal Nexus Statement
Project Name: Metamora Fire and EMS Facility
Location of the Project: Metamora, Illinois
Project Sponsor: Village of Metamora
Requested Amount: $4,000,000
Justification for use of funding: The project will alleviate safety concerns for the area’s first responders, address the severe shortage of EMTs and Paramedics, and ensure our first responders have the necessary tools and resources to meet the immediate safety demands of the Metamora community.
Member Financial Disclosure Certification and Federal Nexus Statement
Project Name: New Interchange Minooka Road/I-80 Project
Location of the Project: Minooka, Illinois
Project Sponsor: Grundy County
Requested Amount: $32,000,000
Justification for use of funding: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the new interchange at Minooka Road would alleviate future congestion and support important public safety changes at the Ridge Road interchange, which will see increased commuter demand in the coming years. The interchange would improve access to the neighboring industrial district, which has seen significant growth in freight-generating business and support the potential for substantial additional job growth. The proposed project includes comprehensive planning, capacity, and mobility improvements by Grundy County, ensuring the long-term functionality of the region.
Member Financial Disclosure Certification and Federal Nexus Statement
Project Name: Park & Bilger Bridges
Location of the Project: Streator, Illinois
Project Sponsor: City of Streator
Requested Amount: $1,000,000
Justification for use of funding: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will support the maintenance of a vital section of Streator’s infrastructure system and improve accessibility for a roadway used by first responders, commercial, and residential traffic in the City of Streator. The removal and replacement of the Park Street and Bilger Bridges will prevent the closure of critical infrastructure junctions in Streator and ensure individuals, families, and businesses in Central and Northwestern Illinois have a robust infrastructure system that provides a reliable, efficient, and safe transportation network.
Member Financial Disclosure Certification and Federal Nexus Statement
Project Name: Radnor Road Street Corridor Plan
Location of the Project: Peoria, Illinois
Project Sponsor: Peoria County
Requested Amount: $1,500,000
Justification for use of funding: The funding would be used to complete NEPA documentation, including preliminary design and planning, for Radnor Road, a vital north-south connector for the City of Peoria. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will improve public safety, increase economic development, and expand transportation accessibility for Peoria county residents. This update will provide additional access for economic development in the Medina Plains Corporate Park and connectivity for the extension of Pioneer Parkway. These proposed developments will increase traffic and the rural road needs improvement to provide adequate levels of safety and capacity for the predicted traffic increase. The project will also include infrastructure updates for all road users including pedestrians and cyclists and provide opportunities for future transit routes.
Member Financial Disclosure Certification and Federal Nexus Statement
Project Name: Rehabilitation of the Meridian Road Bridge Over the Pecatonica River
Location of the Project: Rockford, Illinois
Project Sponsor: Winnebago County
Requested Amount: $1,200,000
Justification for use of funding: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because Meridian Road serves as a vital transportation artery for over 1,700 daily vehicles, including vehicles for the local agricultural and farming community. The project will provide further access and support for safe transportation of agricultural products and commodities across the bridge. The ability for farmers to get their crops to market safely is fundamental to local agriculture in central Illinois.
Member Financial Disclosure Certification and Federal Nexus Statement
Project Name: Rural Behavioral Health Services and Workforce Training Center
Location of the Project: Princeton, Illinois
Project Sponsor: Arukah Institute of Healing
Requested Amount: $2,000,000
Justification for use of funding: The project will allow Arukah to increase rural healthcare services, address the root causes of mental health and substance use, and continue to support the healthcare needs of our rural communities.
Member Financial Disclosure Certification and Federal Nexus Statement
Project Name: Transit Facility
Location of the Project: Belvidere, Illinois
Project Sponsor: Boone County
Requested Amount: $2,000,000
Justification for use of funding: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the construction of a new transit facility would promote long-term cost savings and give the county the ability to reinvest funds from maintenance and repair into the expansion of the transportation program. Citizens in northern Illinois need reliable methods of transportation to get to work, non-emergency medical appointments, and to remain connected to the community, and this project will extend the life of vehicles, sustainably improve the mobility of those who rely on public transit, expand the existing services offered by Boone County Transit, and significantly improve the experience of employees and passengers.
Member Financial Disclosure Certification and Federal Nexus Statement
