SPRINGFIELD– The Illinois Senate has approved a plan co-sponsored by State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford), which would lead to significant investment in Rockford’s athletic facilities. The investment in infrastructure will keep the region a destination for thousands who travel to the community to participate in competitive tournaments and leagues.

Senate Bill 1859 was approved by the Senate 39-6 Friday. Senator Syverson is co-sponsoring the legislation with Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford). Under the bill, Rockford, Winnebago County, and other municipalities in the county could finance expansion of athletic facilities. Those facilities host sports tournaments which pump millions of dollars into the local economy.

“Investment in local infrastructure will help the success of the Reclaiming First project in Winnebago County and will be a boost for the entire region,” said Senator Syverson. “Top quality facilities will bring thousands of people into the community every year and that means more jobs and more revenue to help repair 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 House for consideration.