City of Vandalia receives over $2.3 million for Round 2 of the Site Readiness Plan to help ready the City’s 120 acres for Economic Development opportunities

The City of Vandalia has now received a second grant for the Regional Site Readiness Plan to help the City get their 120 acres of property fully ready for economic development opportunities.

Back in February of 2025, then-Mayor Rick Gottman announced the City of Vandalia received $3 million in grant money for Round 1 of the Site Readiness Plan.  That money to be used for roadway access and water and sewer work for the 120 acres at the City’s west interchange that is owned by the City of Vandalia.

Now, on Thursday, Mayor Doug Knebel announced they have received the second round of funding, which is $2,368,867 to be able to fully complete the Site Readiness work for the property.

The State of Illinois made the announcements on Thursday.  Governor J.B. Pritzker saying the state was handing out an additional $35 million to support site readiness at 22 sites across Illinois.

So, in total, the City of Vandalia has received better than $5.3 million in grant money for Site Readiness for the west interchange property in the 2 rounds.