PEORIA, Ill. — There was a collective sigh of relief on Monday as Peoria learned that Illinois Region 2, which includes Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford Counties, remained in Phase Four of the Restore Illinois plan.
Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis said while not reverting back to Phase Three was important, the city hasn’t received a dime from Washington, D.C. since the coronavirus pandemic began.
Ardis told WMBD’s Greg and Dan, stimulus funding needs to be paid directly to Illinois’ cities and counties like Peoria, bypassing Springfield.
“If we don’t, there’s absolutely no way we can get through this without cutting into public safety,” Ardis said.
Peoria’s police and fire departments are hanging on the edge, according to Ardis. If funding stimulus funding doesn’t come through, additional staffing cuts will be made.
Congress remains at odds on how much stimulus money should be sent to most Americans, but also to states, cities and counties.
Ardis said businesses, trying to just keep the doors open and their patrons safe, are really struggling right now.
“I don’t sleep real great at night. I don’t know how those folks are getting any. It’s a lot, a lot of pressure,” Ardis said.
Ardis said he’s been in talks with local representatives about how to grow new business for Peoria, including bio-medical opportunities.
