The Rebuild Downtown Rock Island project will consist of three different phases and focuses on improving the infrastructure and quality of life in the downtown area.
The project is estimated to cost $8.7 million.
Sarah Hayden, community engagement manager for the city of Rock Island, said funding for the project came from many different sources.
"$3 million was a grant from the State Rebuild Illinois Downtown grant," Hayden said. "We are allocating almost $4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds. We have $1.5 million in Tax Increment Financing from our TIF district downtown, and we also received another grant from the state of Illinois Tourism Attraction and that was the amount of $267,000."
The first phase of construction will begin on Tuesday and will tackle 18th Street from 1st to 3rd avenues, plus 2nd and 3rd avenues from 18th to 19th streets. Hayden says those roads will be closed but five feet of sidewalk will remain open for public and business use.
The city of Rock Island hopes to have the entire project completed by the end of this year.