SPRINGFIELD– A State Senate committee has advanced legislation co-sponsored by State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) to make significant investments in Rockford infrastructure to keep the region a destination for traveling athletic leagues.

A Senate committee approved Senate Bill 1859 Wednesday. Senator Syverson is co-sponsoring the legislation with Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford). The legislation allows Rockford, Winnebago County, and other municipalities in the county to finance expansion of athletic facilities. Those facilities host sports tournaments which pump millions of dollars into the local economy.

“Expanding the Reclaiming First project in Winnebago County is a victory for the entire region,” said Senator Syverson. “Investment in facilities that bring thousands of people into the community every year means more jobs and more tax revenue to help build the economy.”

The project would create a flexible hard court, multi-sport indoor facility. It would also modernize the Sportscore Two facility by adding five artificial and lighted multi-purpose fields, seven artificial turf and lighted soccer fields, and one single-purpose turf and lighted softball diamond. In addition, they will retrofit the current Indoor Sports Center to include a second indoor field for soccer. 

Once the improvements are completed, Reclaim First is expected to result in between $8-16 million in the region. The project will support 210 construction jobs and up to 250 annual new year-round full-time jobs.

The bill now moves to the Senate floor for consideration.