On the afternoon of Monday, April 22, 13th Congressional District Representative Nikki Budzinski visited Community Access Project 1908 at 1100 South Grand Avenue East, presenting the Springfield Project with $1,607,182 in long sought-after federal funding.
The ceremony was attended by Budzinski, community leaders, Illinois State Senator Doris Turner, and Ward 2 Alderman Shawn Gregory. Gregory, in particular, has been an outspoken advocate for Community Access Project (CAP 1908), which lies in the heart of his ward, in the historic Old South Town.
As per a plan meticulously laid out before City Council in February, Springfield Project founder Dominic Watson explained that the money will be used to expand the facilities of CAP 1908 into surrounding buildings, starting with the Madison Cooperative, a shared kitchen space and culinary incubator; and then the South Town Performing Arts Center.
Among numerous other services, CAP 1908 will also provide local entrepreneurs with microloans, informed care for community members who grew up under traumatic circumstances, and public financial literacy education workshops.
“Community Access Project is all about trying to move our community forward,” Watson told the press.
Congresswoman Budzinski, who helped the Springfield Project secure the funds as part of the US House of Representatives’ Community Project Funding initiative, congratulated the Springfield Project for its transformative work in the Springfield community.
“I look at a project like CAP 1908,” explained the Congresswoman, “that is transformative for the community — with investment it is going to change the lives of people throughout Springfield.”
Until only recently, the funds presented in Monday’s event were held up in Congress by a blockade of legislative activity in the House. With Saturday’s dramatic vote for foreign aid, that Congressional hold has cleared.
Budzinski’s office proudly reports the Congresswoman has brought over $136 million in federal support for Illinois community projects like CAP 1908.
“I’m proud to be [CAP’s] partner in Congress,” Said Budzinski on Monday.
“Whatever comes next, I’m going to continue to be by their side.”
