$475,000 For Rialto? $250,000 For Joliet Museum? Council Vote Nears

JOLIET — Joliet City Hall issued a press release on Thursday announcing that the Joliet City Council will vote on renewing annual grant funding for two prominent cultural organizations at Tuesday’s meeting. City Finance Director Kevin Sing is requesting a 2025 grant of $250,000 for the Joliet Area Historical Museum and $475,000 in grant funds to the Will County Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority, also known as the Rialto Square Theatre.

Funding for the proposed grants is included in the 2025 city budget, which was adopted late last year.

“Both of these organizations have received annual grants from the city—since 1980 for the Rialto and 2002 for the Historical Museum,” Sing noted in the press release. “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 museum is requesting a $250,000 reimbursement grant, meaning the museum must first expend the funds and then submit a request for reimbursement. As in 2024, the proposed 2025 grant will be allocated for the following purposes:

• $25,000 – Regularly scheduled public events and educational programs at the Museum, including but not limited to: Concert Series at the Museum Rooftop Terrace and/or Auditorium, Adult & Community Programs (Speakers, Lectures & Presentations) Children's Themed Events, Historic Architectural and/or Thematic Walking & Tram Tours (Seasonal/Weather Permitting)
• $125,000 – Administration of public operations for tours, programs, and special events at the Old Joliet Prison Historic Site, 1125 Collins Street, Joliet, IL, on a seasonal basis (approximately March-November).
• $100,000 – Administration of public operations for tours, programs, and special events at the Joliet Area Museum City Center Campus, 204 N. Ottawa Street, Joliet, IL, and Union Depot Tower Rail Museum, 100 E Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL. This also includes curatorial functions such as regularly scheduled exhibits, physical storage, preservation of artifacts, publicly accessible research files, and the identification, application, and administration of grants from state, federal, and private sources.

To receive reimbursement funding, the museum must meet the requirements set forth in its agreement with the city. If approved, the grant will support the preservation of Joliet’s history, including the Old Joliet Prison and Union Depot Rail Tower tours.

The Rialto has requested $475,000 to help cover costs for its $8.5 million Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning renovation project. The Rialto Square Theatre will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026. This funding will also contribute to the preservation of the historic venue.