East Central Reporter

State Representative Adam Niemerg extended his congratulations to a community within his district for securing an Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant. He conveyed this message in a Facebook post dated December 19.

"Congratulations to Martinsville on being selected to receive a state grant to add a basketball court, pickle ball courts and a splash pad water recreation area to their park," said Adam M Niemerg, according to Facebook.

In the post, Niemerg shared a link to a news release detailing the OSLAD grant awarded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to Martinsville and other communities. According to Niemerg, "This partnership between IDNR and our local government is not only helpful for communities to grow, it impacts economic development activities as well." He encouraged other communities to apply for these grants when they become available again.

Screenshot of State Rep. Adam Niemerg's Dec. 19 Facebook post | State Representative Adam Niemerg's Facebook page

Governor JB Pritzker's office announced the latest round of grant awards on December 16. The governor's news release said that 100 local park projects would benefit from these grants, with twenty-nine directed towards economically underserved communities. Pritzker said, "Since I became Governor, it's been my mission to build stronger, healthier communities across Illinois."

The OSLAD program was established by the Illinois General Assembly in 1986 as a cost-sharing initiative between state and local governments. It provides up to 50 percent of funds for project costs or 90 percent for underserved communities. Grants can reach up to $1,725,000 for property acquisition and are capped at $600,000 for renovation and development projects.

Niemerg was first elected in 2020 and describes himself as a "fiscal conservative focused on reducing taxes and fighting for limited government and pension reform," according to his official biography. He works as a senior claims adjuster with Country Financial and holds a bachelor's degree from Eastern Illinois University.