Will County Gazette

The Joliet City Council is set to vote on the continuation of annual grant funding for two significant cultural institutions during Tuesday's council meeting. Finance Director Kevin Sing will present grants for the Joliet Area Historical Museum and the Will County Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority, known as the Rialto Square Theatre.

The proposed 2025 grant for the museum is $250,000, while the Rialto is to receive $475,000. Both organizations contribute to the city's economy by attracting visitors who generate sales tax revenue.

Sing explained that the Rialto has been receiving city grants since 1980, and the Historical Museum since 2002. He noted, “In 2024, the funding for the museum was restructured into a reimbursement grant, which limits the eligible uses for the funds, ensuring that the city receives regular reports and assurances that the grant requirements are being met.”

The Historical Museum's request comprises a $250,000 reimbursement grant, which requires the museum to spend money upfront before seeking reimbursement. The allocation includes $25,000 for public events and educational programs at the museum, $125,000 for the Old Joliet Prison Historic Site operations, and $100,000 for operations at the Joliet Area Museum City Center Campus and Union Depot Tower Rail Museum. The museum must comply with the city's grant agreement to receive these funds.

For the Rialto Square Theatre, the $475,000 will support its $8.5 million Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning renovation, crucial ahead of its 100th-anniversary celebrations in 2026. The funding is aimed at ensuring the preservation of this historic venue.

The grants are already included in the city's 2025 budget, which was approved last year.