Galesburg City Council on Monday night approved the Downtown Residential Fire Sprinkler Grant Program.
This will give a reimbursement of 50 percent up to $20,000 for downtown property owners to install sprinkler systems with the hope it will spur residential development.
Mayor Peter Schwartzman says the program shows “foresight” on the part of the Council and administration and hopes that developers will take notice of the program.
7th Ward Alderman Steve Cheesman says this could have a “domino effect” for advancing the downtown and the community.
Director of Community Development Steve Gugliotta says the city would only be limited by the money in TIF 4 since that’s how the program is funded.
Gugliotta says that developers who take part in the sprinkler program aren’t precluded from taking advantage of other similar incentive programs.
