City Council approves state grants for T/CCI EV compressor facility, Staley Family Foundation watershed support
Decatur, IL – Highlights from the March 6, 2023, Decatur City Council meeting include an agreement with the State DCEO to help fund the conversion of T/CCI’s compressor plant, and an agreement with the Staley Family Foundation that will support Lake Decatur’s 100th anniversary and future watershed management initiatives.
DCEO grants to fund T/CCI’s EV compressor plant conversion
On Monday night the Decatur City Council approved an agreement with the State Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to move forward with the conversion of T/CCI Manufacturing into an EV compressor facility. The City will act as the fiscal agent for two separate $3 million grants. In total, the State has committed to investing more than $20 million into T/CCI for this project.
T/CCI is the first recipient of the State REV Act, which is an incentive program to encourage private investment into electric vehicle manufacturing. T/CCI’s project will create an estimated 50 new jobs to add to their existing 100+ jobs already at the Decatur facility. This will be the first EV compressor facility anywhere in the U.S. – further positioning Decatur as a potential EV hub.
Along with the compressor plant, the State’s investment is also bringing a full-scale climate test center for EV technology and equipment, and an EV engineer & software development training academy to T/CCI’s campus.
Staley Family Foundation partnership
Another item the Council approved was an agreement with the Staley Family Foundation supporting the centennial anniversary of Lake Decatur and future watershed management initiatives. The Foundation has agreed to a significant sponsorship to help the City of Decatur sustain good stewardship and watershed management of Lake Decatur.
Lake Decatur would likely not exist if not for the vision of A.E. Staley. To commemorate the Staley Family and their significance in creating the Lake, the City will rename Basin #3 the “Staley Basin.” Along with supporting watershed management, the sponsorship will underwrite much of the expenses for an event being planned to celebrate 100 years of Lake Decatur. More details on this event are being released at a Tuesday, March 7, afternoon press conference. Stay up to date on upcoming festivities at https://decaturil.gov/lakedecatur100/.
In other business
In other business…Council approved an amendment to the City’s Liquor Code to allow Millikin University to sell alcoholic beverages at sporting/athletic events. Millikin requested this change and Council members said they were happy to support MU sporting events with this change.
More information about these topics can be found in the City Council Agenda packet, downloadable/viewable here: www.decaturil.gov/mayor-and-council/council-meetings/
