Manhattan Township

Solar Developer Commits Up to $800,000 for Smith Road Improvements

Spread the love

Summit Ridge Energy, a solar farm developer, has committed to providing up to $800,000 for the engineering and construction of improvements along Smith Road, Manhattan Township officials announced Tuesday.

The significant financial contribution is part of a road use agreement negotiated between Highway Commissioner Jim Baltas and Township Attorney Cass Wennlund. The funds are intended to subsidize upgrades needed to accommodate the developer’s project.

According to the meeting minutes, the $800,000 commitment is not sufficient to cover the entire scope of the planned project, which involves widening Smith Road from Cedar Road to Kankakee Street. However, officials stated that the funds will “subsidize the majority of the project.”

The agreement provides a substantial boost to the township’s infrastructure efforts, leveraging private development to fund public road improvements. Details regarding the timeline for the Smith Road project and how the township will cover the remaining costs have not yet been announced.

Latest News Stories

Illinois bill would force employers to pay employees regular wages for jury duty

Illinois bill would force employers to pay employees regular wages for jury duty

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Senate is considering legislation that would force employers to pay employees regular wages while they...
Foxx: Prosecutors’ ‘silence’ on murder exonerations doesn’t mean ‘innocent’

Foxx: Prosecutors’ ‘silence’ on murder exonerations doesn’t mean ‘innocent’

By Jonathan Bilyk | :era; NewslineThe Center Square Attorneys for one of two Mexican men who claim they were illegally coerced into confessing to helping murder a Chicago couple to...
Foxx: Prosecutors’ ‘silence’ on murder exonerations doesn’t mean ‘innocent’

Foxx: Prosecutors’ ‘silence’ on murder exonerations doesn’t mean ‘innocent’

By Jonathan Bilyk | :era; NewslineThe Center Square Attorneys for one of two Mexican men who claim they were illegally coerced into confessing to helping murder a Chicago couple to...
Foxx: Prosecutors’ ‘silence’ on murder exonerations doesn’t mean ‘innocent’

Foxx: Prosecutors’ ‘silence’ on murder exonerations doesn’t mean ‘innocent’

By Jonathan Bilyk | :era; NewslineThe Center Square Attorneys for one of two Mexican men who claim they were illegally coerced into confessing to helping murder a Chicago couple to...
Illinois Quick Hits: ISU union workers reach deal, return to work

Illinois Quick Hits: ISU union workers reach deal, return to work

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – More than 300 Illinois State University employees are back on the job after ratifying a new five-year...
Illinois Quick Hits: ISU union workers reach deal, return to work

Illinois Quick Hits: ISU union workers reach deal, return to work

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – More than 300 Illinois State University employees are back on the job after ratifying a new five-year...
Illinois Dems eye $7B from new tax proposals, push ‘Billionaire Wealth Tax’

Illinois Dems eye $7B from new tax proposals, push ‘Billionaire Wealth Tax’

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – New tax proposals being considered in Springfield could bring nearly $7 billion in revenue to the state,...
Plan would have state taxpayers provide $50M for ICE-impacted businesses

Plan would have state taxpayers provide $50M for ICE-impacted businesses

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Senate is considering legislation that would provide $50 million in state taxpayer funds to businesses...
Plan would have state taxpayers provide $50M for ICE-impacted businesses

Plan would have state taxpayers provide $50M for ICE-impacted businesses

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Senate is considering legislation that would provide $50 million in state taxpayer funds to businesses...
Midwest takes brunt of rising gas prices

Midwest takes brunt of rising gas prices

By David Beasley | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Midwestern states, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan in particular, were hit harder in the past week by...
Screenshot 2026-05-05 at 2.00.13 PM

Manhattan District 114 Rejects Bus Bids, Retains Lincoln-Way with Six-Month Trial

Manhattan School District 114 Board of Education Meeting | April 29, 2026 Article Summary: The Manhattan School District 114 Board of Education reached a consensus to reject two outside transportation...
Screenshot 2026-05-05 at 1.46.14 PM

JJC Entrepreneur and Business Center Celebrates $800,000 Federal Grant, Client Successes

Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees Meeting | April 15, 2026 Article Summary: The Joliet Junior College Entrepreneur and Business Center highlighted its recent community impact and rapid growth during a...
Chicago mayor to push for local funding, keeping Bears

Chicago mayor to push for local funding, keeping Bears

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As he travels to Springfield to lobby for state funding of local governments, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson...
Senate Republicans unveil $72 billion budget package to fund ICE, CBP

Senate Republicans unveil $72 billion budget package to fund ICE, CBP

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Republicans are forging ahead with legislation to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and U.S. Border Patrol along party lines. The two Senate committees...
jackson township graphic.2

Jackson Township Reassesses Land Acquisition Needs for ComEd Project

Jackson Township Board Meeting | March 11, 2026 Article Summary: The Jackson Township Board received an update regarding a pending land acquisition associated with a local ComEd infrastructure project, learning that...