Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Approves DCEO Site Readiness Infrastructure Grant

For Immediate Release – February 5, 2025

Mattoon, Illinois. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) has approved a DCEO Site Readiness Infrastructure Grant for total project cost of $2,947,000 for electrical capacity near the 1000 North Mattoon Charleston Industrial Parkway Corridor.

The City of Mattoon, in partnership with Coles Together EDO, Ameren Illinois, and Agracel, Inc., proposed a critical electrical infrastructure upgrade to an electrical substation that services Agracel’s Mattoon Enterprise Park. This upgrade is essential to overcoming the insufficient electrical capacity that has hindered the park’s ability to attract new industrial developments for nearly two decades, and would directly benefit the area for attracting new businesses, turning Mattoon Enterprise Park into a shovel-ready, pad-ready prime industrial site. Additionally, this upgrade of utility infrastructure is specifically identified in the Coles Together Five-Year Strategic Plan for the general economic development priorities for Coles County.

The project ensures the site will become shovel-ready, creating a competitive industrial hub in East Central Illinois. The total project cost is $2,947,400, with the City of Mattoon requesting $2,357,920 from DCEO and contributing a 20% match of $589,480 that will be equally shared between the City of Mattoon and Coles Together EDO. As the electrical capacity is utilized at this development site, Ameren Illinois will reimburse the match to the City of Mattoon and Coles Together EDO.

Dr. Ronda Sauget, President and CEO of Coles Together EDO, wishes to thank the City of Mattoon, Agracel, and Ameren Illinois for stepping up to address this electrical capacity infrastructure development need that will enable new industrial opportunities at the 1000N Mattoon Charleston Industrial Parkway Corridor for years to come. Mattoon Mayor Rick Hall, stated, “He would like to thank his team, especially Kyle Gill and Alex Benishek, for the dedicated work on the grant application, as well as all of the strategic partners that came together to solve this challenge. This project will benefit long term industrial development that compliments other strategic economic growth in the Coles County area.”

Coles Together EDO is an 501c6 non-profit organization designed to provide a unified voice of Coles County’s business and community leadership. Coles Together mission is to promote the county’s competitive advantages to grow a diverse, innovative economy, enhancing the tax base, creating jobs, and supporting a high quality of life for all residents.