New Companies, Old Connections, and $57,653 in Public Funds: Freeport Set to Approve Façade Grants
May 02, 2026 | Freeport, IL
On Monday night (May 04, 2026), the Freeport City Council is expected to approve $57,653 in façade improvement grants, directing taxpayer-backed TIF funds to a mix of private property owners, businesses, and a nonprofit organization across the downtown district.
At first glance, the program appears routine—an annual effort aimed at improving building exteriors, preserving historic character, and encouraging reinvestment in the city’s core. But a closer look at the recipients reveals a more complicated picture—one that raises questions about timing, eligibility, and oversight.
According to a memo submitted to City Manager William “Rob” Boyer III, the 2026 Downtown Façade Improvement Grant Program received nine applications. Although originally budgeted at $30,000, the city expanded the funding pool to $60,000 using unspent TIF dollars from prior years. The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) reviewed and scored each application, ultimately recommending $57,653 in total awards.
City staff is now asking the council to approve those recommendations in full.
Early Questions Emerge
Among the most notable recipients is a newly formed company tied to 1 W. Main Street, which is set to receive $7,979.50.
The company—One West Main LLC—was established in March 2026. Within weeks of its formation, it applied for and is now positioned to receive nearly $8,000 in public funds. Public records also show an outstanding property tax balance of $1,413.74 from 2024 tied to the property.
That sequence—new ownership, immediate application, and pending public funding—raises a straightforward question:
What standards are being applied before taxpayer dollars are awarded?
At 2–6 E. Stephenson Street, a separate $10,000 grant is recommended for a property owned by DeLunaGroup LLC. The company, originally formed in 2015, had fallen out of good standing with the State of Illinois and only returned to active status in March 2026—less than one month before applying.
Meanwhile, at 27 S. State Street and 1 W. Main Street, ownership traces back to entities associated with former State Senator Brian Stewart. While both properties are positioned to receive funding, one of the associated companies only recently returned to good standing with the state in late 2025.
None of these factors automatically disqualify an applicant. But taken together, they highlight inconsistencies that deserve public discussion—especially when taxpayer-backed funds are involved.
Where the Money Is Going
The largest awards—$15,000 each—are expected to go to:
2 W. Spring Street
21 S. Chicago Avenue
Additional allocations include:
$10,000 – 2–6 E. Stephenson Street
$7,979.50 – 1 W. Main Street
$5,601.50 – 22 E. Exchange Street
Smaller awards ranging from $1,572 to $2,500 for other properties
One applicant at 232 E. Stephenson Street requested $15,000 but received no funding recommendation, reflecting the scoring process used by the Historic Preservation Commission.
Public Funds, Private Benefit
The funding source for these grants is Freeport’s Downtown TIF District—a mechanism designed to reinvest incremental tax revenue back into targeted areas to promote redevelopment.
Supporters argue that façade improvements increase property values and strengthen the downtown corridor over time.
But the structure also creates a recurring tension:
Public dollars are being used to improve privately owned assets.
That tension becomes more pronounced when some recipients are:
Newly formed entities
Recently reinstated companies
Or tied to properties with outstanding tax obligations
In addition, one award is directed to the Freeport Art Museum, a nonprofit organization. While its mission contributes to the cultural fabric of the community, its inclusion raises an important policy question:
Should TIF funds—designed to stimulate taxable development—be used in the same way for nonprofit entities?
A Vote Expected Monday
The City Council is expected to vote on the full slate of recommendations Monday night. As of now, there is little indication the proposal will be separated for discussion or modified before approval.
If passed, the funds will be distributed as outlined.
Analysis | Joshua T. Atkinson, Chairman – Fighting4Freeport
This is where the conversation shifts from what can be done… to what should be done.
No one is against improving downtown. No one is against reinvestment. Those are goals worth pursuing.
But programs like this only work when the public has confidence in how they’re administered.
Right now, that confidence should be tested.
You have companies formed weeks ago stepping into thousands of dollars in public funding. You have entities that weren’t even in good standing until just before applying. You have properties carrying unpaid tax balances still positioned to benefit.
And at the same time, residents are being told the city doesn’t have enough money—for infrastructure, for services, for the basics.
That disconnect matters.
TIF dollars are still taxpayer dollars. They don’t come from nowhere. They come from the people of this community, redirected with the expectation that they will be used responsibly, consistently, and transparently.
If those standards are being applied evenly, then there should be no hesitation in explaining them.
If they’re not, then Monday night shouldn’t be treated as routine.
Because this isn’t just about $57,653.
It’s about setting a standard.
And once a standard like this is accepted, it doesn’t stay small.
It becomes the system.