A $350 Million Investment in our Community

At first glance, dredging a lake and implementing new public school curriculum standards may seem unrelated. But the projects listed below represent the means to a cohesive, collective goal: Creating a “quality of place” through initiatives in infrastructure, education, water recreation, local history, agribusiness, fine arts, and strategic planning. Add it all together, and the total represents a $350 million investment in our community's future.

Water Supply

Project: Lake Dredging
Projected Investment: $24.8 million
Partners: City of Decatur
Estimated completion: December 2012

Project: New Reservoir
Projected Investment: $50-$80 million
Partners: City of Decatur
Estimated Completion: To be determined

Recreation & Entertainment

Project: Lakefront Development on Lake Decatur
Projected Investment: Initial Phase-$35 million
Partners: Decatur Park District; City of Decatur
Estimated Completion: To be determined

Project: Bike Trail Extension
Projected Investment: Phase 1, Fairview to Greendale Park — $2.7 million, Phase 2, Greendale to Forsyth — $1.5 million
Partners: Decatur Park District
Estimated Completion: Phase 1, late summer 2008; Phase 2, summer 2009

Project: Neighborhood & Community Park Renovation
Projected Investment: $4-$5 million
Partners: Decatur Park District
Estimated Completion: To be determined

Project: Scovill Park enhancement
Projected Investment: $400,000
Partners: Decatur Park District
Estimated Completion: Spring 2008

Project: Lincoln Theatre renovation
Projected Investment: $3.5 million (to date); additional $2 million anticipated
Partners: Lincoln Theatre Board of Directors
Estimated Completion: To be determined

Tourism

Project: Lincoln Heritage Development
Projected Investment: $2 million
Partners: City of Decatur
Estimated Completion: January 2009

Public Safety/Transportation

Project: Macon County South and East Beltway
Projected Investment: $170 million
Partners: PARAGON/Macon County Highway Department
Estimated Completion: Phase I study complete by August 2008

Project: Truck Route Study
Projected Investment: $75,000
Partners: City of Decatur; truckers; downtown residents and businesses
Estimated Completion: Early 2008

Project: Decatur Police Building
Projected Investment: $4 million - $13.5 million
Partners: City of Decatur; Police Department
Estimated Completion: Occupancy in August 2009

Project: Air Service
Projected Investment: To be determined
Partners: Decatur Park District
Estimated Completion: Ongoing

Education

Project: Decatur Area Education Coalition
Projected Investment: $6.5 million
Partners: Community Foundation of Decatur & Macon County; Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce; Millikin University; Richland Community College; Decatur Public Schools; local corporations and foundations
Estimated Completion: To be determined

Project: District 61 Curriculum Advancement
Projected Investment: To be determined
Partners: District 61
Estimated Completion: Ongoing

Agribusiness

Project: Richland Community College Master Plan: “Invitation To The Future”
Projected Investment: To be determined
Partners: Richland Community College
Estimated Completion: Through 2014, and beyond

Project: Global Agribusiness Bioenergy Corridor
Projected Investment: $12.8 million
Partners: Richland Community College
Estimated Completion: To be determined

Planning

Project: Joint County/City Comprehensive Plan
Projected Investment: $350,000 - $450,000
Partners: City of Decatur; Macon County
Estimated Completion: Ongoing

Completed Projects

Local projects nearing completion, or those completed within the last two years, signal a city moving in the right direction. Consider our significant strides:

Agribusiness: Construction of Progress City USA and Decatur’s second turn as host to “agriculture’s Superbowl” — the 2007 Farm Progress Show.

Retail: Completion of Mound Center, anchored by Olive Garden, Target, and Starbucks.

Recreation: Debut of the Decatur Park District Raymond Floyd-designed Red Tail Run Golf Course; renovation of Dreamland Lake in Fairview Park; completion of the first phase of Fido Fields dog park in Fairview Park.

Education: Opening of Decatur’s first year-long school, Hope Academy.

Downtown: 300 North Main Development, with construction of the 75,000-square-foot, multi-use Reynolds Building to be completed in 2008; $2.8 million rehabilitation of the West Main Corridor linking Millikin University to downtown completed in September 2007; $482,000 Transfer House restoration completed in 2007; first phase of the Lincoln Theatre renovation completed in Spring 2007.