Pritzker comes to Belleville to announce new development financing in Illinois
Gov. J.B. Pritzker traveled to Belleville on Monday to announce that new financing is available to build up to three large-scale developments in southwestern Illinois.
Cities, counties and businesses in the region can now apply for state approval to issue bonds to build “destination-scale” tourism, entertainment and retail projects as part of the state’s expansion of its Sales Tax and Revenue program, also known as STAR.
Those bonds may be repaid using future sales tax revenue generated by the developments.
Pritzker was joined by Belleville Mayor Jenny Meyer, state Reps. Jay Hoffman and Katie Stuart, and other state and local officials. The news conference closed the roundabout in Belleville’s Public Square to traffic throughout the morning.
Officials did not provide specifics about potential future projects that metro-east communities may be planning — except to say that professional sports stadiums are not eligible for the program.
Pritzker said the revival of the STAR program under his administration has resulted in “a whole lot of interest right here in Belleville.”
“I think we’re going to probably see in very short order a project that will come forward,” Pritzker said.
Meyer did not respond to requests for further comment Monday regarding the city’s interest in the program.
Hoffman, D-Swansea, said officials throughout the metro-east have contacted him to learn more about the process, but he declined to identify which cities have expressed interest. He noted the program is open to both new developments and existing businesses that want to expand or redevelop.
The program requires a developer to:
- Make a minimum capital investment of over $30 million on the project
- Have $60 million in projected annual gross sales
- Create at least 300 new full-time jobs
Municipalities have until June 1 to notify the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity that they are interested.
They will then have to create a STAR bond district around the area where the project is planned through a municipal resolution. At least half of the district must be located in an area considered “underserved” because of unemployment or poverty rates.
Even larger projects are allowed in New Opportunities for Vacation and Adventure, or NOVA, districts, which require a developer to:
- Make a minimum capital investment of $500 million on the project
- Have $300 million in projected annual gross sales
- Create 1,500 new full-time jobs
- Attract 1 million visitors annually
District plans are due to the state by Jan. 1, 2027. Project plans are due by June 1, 2028. The development work would start within at least three years of state approval.
At Monday’s event, Kyle Anderson, the executive director of the Leadership Council of Southwestern Illinois, noted the amount of money Illinois residents spend on entertainment across the river in Missouri.
“We have to compete every day against a neighboring state for retail dollars,” he said. “... I wouldn’t mind seeing some concerts in my backyard and spending some more of my money here in Illinois doing the things that I love.”
This story was originally published February 9, 2026 at 4:36 PM.
