USDA Celebrates 100 Years of Route 66 and Hundreds of Miles of Investments in Rural Illinois

(Champaign, Ill., May 4, 2026) - Today, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Route 66 designation, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Illinois State Director Jesus Ortega called attention to several Rural Development investments along the historic highway. Nearly $11 million in investments in recent projects provide benefits to many thousands of people in rural Illinois and beyond.

"These projects I am highlighting today are just a few examples of how, even after 100 years, Route 66 is still at the center of growth and progress in rural Illinois," said Ortega. "Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, USDA is proud to be involved in shaping the history of this important highway, and we are committed to supporting future projects in the interest of rural prosperity in Illinois."

Highlighted projects represent Rural Development investments through Community Facilities, Water and Environmental Program and the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program.

Community Facilities (CF) programs provide affordable funding to develop essential community facilities and emergency services in rural areas.

• The City of Pontiac, Fire Department will use a $500,000 CF grant to construct a new fire and rescue substation. The project will improve emergency response times for residents west of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, where frequent and lengthy train crossings have created delays. The new substation will also expand service to underserved fire protection districts and benefit more than 11,150 people.
• The Boys & Girls Club (Livingston) will use a $1 million CF grant to build a new community center serving residents along Route 66. The center will provide intergenerational spaces including a game room, learning center, art and music areas, a wellness center in partnership with a local hospital, a commercial kitchen, gymnasium, and indoor track. This project will support 2,678 rural residents and help foster well-being and economic growth for more than 34,000 people in Ford and Livingston counties.

Water and Environmental Program (WEP) funding supports construction of water and waste facilities in rural communities. It is the only federal program exclusively focused on rural water and waste infrastructure needs of rural communities with populations of 10,000 or less. WEP also provides funding to organizations that provide technical assistance and training to rural communities in relation to their water and waste activities.

• The Village of Pawnee will use a $500,000 WEP grant to replace approximately 7,550 feet of watermains. This project will alleviate health and sanitary concerns by providing safe and potable water for the village residents. The project will serve more than 300 residents, local schools, and the fire department in Pawnee, Illinois. The project will benefit over 2,678 people.

Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) helps significantly increase the sales and use of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel by expanding the infrastructure for renewable fuels derived from U.S. agricultural products. The program is also intended to encourage a more comprehensive approach to market higher blends by sharing the costs related to building out biofuel-related infrastructure.

• AZ SPE LLC (Lockport) will use a $582,000 HBIIP grant to expand renewable fuel options at three Illinois fueling stations in Lockport, Palatine, and Rolling Meadows. The project includes installing new E15, E85, and B20 dispensers, along with ethanol and biodiesel storage tanks, to support increased access to higher-blend biofuels. These improvements are expected to boost annual biofuel sales by approximately 435,948 gallons.
• Mac's Convenience Stores (Bloomington, Edwardsville, Maryville) will use a $4,537,500 grant to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels. Mac's Convenience Stores LLC is the owner of more than ten fueling stations throughout Illinois and Iowa. This project will install 102 new E15 dispensers and 20 ethanol storage tanks at 22 fueling stations at locations including Aledo, Bloomington, Burlington, Carthage, Champaign, Clinton, Collinsville, Danville, Decatur, East Alton, Edwardsville, Highland, Macomb, Maryville, Monmouth, Morris, Rock Island and Rockford. These upgrades are expected to increase ethanol sales by approximately 11.9 million gallons per year.
• Pak Investments LLC (Chicago) used a $488,701 HBIIP grant to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use renewable fuels. Pak Investments LLC is the owner of ten or fewer fueling stations. This project included installation of one E85 dispenser and one ethanol storage tank at one fueling station. This project increases the amount of ethanol sold by 39,984 gallons per year.
• Chronister Oil Co Inc (Springfield) will use a $2,644,500 HBIIP grant to expand renewable fuel infrastructure at three Illinois fueling stations in Pana, Springfield, and Jacksonville. The project will add new E15, E85, and B20 dispensers along with ethanol and biodiesel storage tanks. These upgrades are expected to increase annual biofuel sales by nearly 975,000 gallons.
• Osco, Inc. (Lemont), a fuel distribution facility company, will use a $274,250 HBIIP grant to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels. This project will consist of installing a bio blending system, pump house and loading equipment, at one location in Lemont, Illinois. This project is to increase the amount of biodiesel sold by 413,834 gallons per year.
  
• Benham ZX Corp (Granite City) will use a $484,497 grant to expand renewable fuel infrastructure at a Granite City, Illinois, fueling station. The project will add new E15 and B20 dispensers along with ethanol and biodiesel storage tanks. These improvements are expected to increase annual biofuel sales by more than 138,000 gallons.

"I hope that at some point during this very special anniversary year, you will have an opportunity to explore Route 66 and experience these projects and other aspects that help make Route 66 such an essential part of the history and future of rural Illinois," said Ortega.

For more information on these projects and programs, contact [email protected].

For more information on USDA Rural Development investments in rural America, visit the Rural Data Gateway. The Rural Data Gateway is an online tool that strengthens USDA Rural Development partnerships with rural people, entrepreneurs, government officials and Congress by making investment data accessible to the public.

Learn more online at www.rd.usda.gov/il, subscribe to GovDelivery updates, and follow us on X at @RD_Illinois.

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