04/07/2026
Big news on our utility expansion progress!
๐ WHAT'S HAPPENING AT RT 23 & I-90? (And why it's good news for your taxes)
If you've driven along the Route 23 corridor lately, you've seen the backhoes, the massive dirt piles, and the crews laying water and sewer pipe. We want to clear up the "why" behind the work โ and share some huge news about how we're paying for it.
๐ฐ THE BIG NEWS: $4.6 MILLION SECURED
Marengo just received a $4,649,628 grant from the State of Illinois (DCEO) โ and it's bigger than just the dollar amount. Out of applications from across Illinois, Marengo was selected as one of only 7 sites statewide, receiving the second-largest capital grant in the entire first wave of the program. This is a real competitive win for our city.
This state money covers the "last mile" of our utility project. By winning this grant, we are completing this massive infrastructure work using state funds rather than relying on local taxpayers to foot the bill.
โ THE BIG QUESTION: "WE HAVE THE EXIT, SO WHERE ARE THE BUSINESSES?"
It's been seven years since the interchange opened in 2019. We hear the skepticism: "If we built the exit, why isn't there a factory or a distribution center there yet?"
Here is the reality of economic development: Pavement alone doesn't bring jobs. To a major employer, an interchange without high-capacity water and sewer is like a house with a front door but no plumbing. It looks ready, but you can't actually run a business there. Large companies look for "Shovel-Ready" sites โ places where they can plug in and start building on day one. If they have to wait years for a city to run pipes to them, they'll just take their jobs and tax dollars to a town that's already prepared.
What you see today is us finishing those "plugs." We are making Marengo competitive, so we don't get passed by.
โณ THE ROADMAP: HOW WE GOT HERE
2019: The I-90/IL-23 interchange opened โ the only interstate access in McHenry County.
2022โ2025: We secured $27M in state grants and a $750,000 McHenry County loan to start laying water and sewer pipes from the city toward the I-90 tollway.
JUNE 2026 (Phase 1): Utilities officially reach local employers like Unilock.
OCTOBER 2026 (Phase 2): Pipes reach the south side of the development area, approximately Anthony Road.
TODAY (Phase 3): This new $4.6M grant funds the "final mile" to the tollway corridor. Current estimated project completion by end of 2028.
For the full story, visit our website. https://www.cityofmarengo.com/whats-happening-at-route-23-i-90-an-update-on-our-progress/
๐ WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?
We aren't just moving dirt for the sake of it. This is about the long-term health of our town:
Tax Relief: When large industrial businesses move in, they pay a significant share of property taxes โ helping fund our schools and public safety so the entire burden doesn't stay on your home's property tax bill.
Local Jobs: We want our kids and neighbors to have high-paying career options right here in Marengo.
Better Infrastructure: These upgrades modernize our entire utility system for decades to come.
We're in the home stretch of a very long project โ and for the first time, the finish line is actually in sight. Thank you for your patience with the construction crews. We are building a more stable, affordable future for Marengo.
Have questions? Email our team at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!
