(The following story by Eric Timmons appeared on The (Galesburg) Register-Mail website on January 11, 2010.)
GALESBURG, Ill. — Local officials are hoping they can combine the marketing power and attractions of the Quad Cities, Peoria and Galesburg to create a tourism corridor called Tractors, Trains and Tracks, that would include the $30 million proposed National Railroad Hall of Fame, creating jobs and investment across the region.
State Rep. Don Moffitt, R-Gilson, said the idea would be similar to the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area in Iowa, creating a network of sites for tourists to visit and bringing communities together to market the region to visitors.
The Tractors, Trains and Tracks corridor would use the John Deere Pavilion in Moline, the proposed Caterpillar visitor center in Peoria and the NRRHOF to create a tourism hub.
Congressman Phil Hare, D-Rock Island, said he met with Moffitt and NRRHOF Executive Director Julie King to discuss plans for the hall of fame, which NRRHOF officials hope to develop in downtown Galesburg.
Hare said he liked the sound of the Tractors, Trains and Tracks proposal and also promised to use his powers to try and secure federal funding for the NRRHOF.
“I think it would be great for the city,” he said. “My goal is just to get them as much money as I can.”
Hare said he hopes to talk to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel next week to see if discretionary federal funds can be found to support the project, although he’s not sure how much, if any, money might be available. “The problem is, I don’t know how many federal dollars they are going to be able to secure,” he said.
The federal budget faces enormous financial pressures in the coming year, which will make it difficult to get substantial funding for a project like the hall of fame. It’s unlikely that the NRRHOF would be able to wring any money from the state, given the huge funding holes in its budget.
But Hare also said he plans to speak to Secretary of Transportation and former Peoria Congressman Ray LaHood about the NRRHOF.
LaHood visited Galesburg last October and met with Moffitt and NRRHOF officials. Moffitt said LaHood was supportive of the Tractors, Trains and Tracks idea, as was BNSF CEO Matt Rose, who was also in Galesburg during LaHood’s visit.
A spokeswoman for LaHood said Wednesday that the secretary of transportation could not comment on the potential for federal support for the project for legal reasons.
In addition to attempting to raise money from public sources, the NRRHOF also is working to raise private funds from wealthy individuals.
NRRHOF director Julie King said the group is working on a philanthropic feasibility study to target key donors and hopes the study will be complete in the fall. The NRRHOF has delayed work to raise money from private sources because of the economic downturn, which has made the fundraising environment more difficult.
King said the discussion with Hare Tuesday was very positive. Hare was given an update on the project at the presentation in Moffitt’s office, she added. With visits from LaHood, BNSF CEO Rose and Hare in recent months, King said the NRRHOF had experienced a “fantastic” period of progress at the national level.
Moffitt said union representatives also were present at Tuesday’s meeting and indicated their support for the project, which could create hundreds of construction jobs.
“We took another big step yesterday,” Moffitt said Wednesday of Hare’s visit. “He (Hare) expressed his total support for the project and I really commend him for that.” Moffitt said Hare’s promise to raise funding for the hall of fame with Emanuel was “huge.” City Manager Dane Bragg and Alderman Wayne Allen, Ward 6, were also present at Tuesday’s meeting.
The proposed NRRHOF site would be 32,000 and 40,000 square feet and could bring upwards of 150,000 visitors to Galesburg annually, according to the group.