CARBONDALE, Ill. (WSIL) -- The City of Carbondale has been awarded a $46,000 Hometown Grant from T-Mobile. This makes Carbondale one of just 25 communities nationwide and one of two in Illinois to receive this grant in the latest funding round.
The community is invited to celebrate this achievement at the Brown Bag Concert on Wednesday, June 18, at 12 p.m. at the Town Square Pavilion. The event will feature representatives from T-Mobile, Carbondale Main Street, and the City of Carbondale, with a live music performance by “The Natives.�
T-Mobile’s Hometown Grants program, launched in 2021, aims to support rural America by expanding 5G infrastructure and providing direct community development support. Over five years, T-Mobile plans to award $25 million for projects like Carbondale’s, which is aimed towards enriching and revitalizing local communities.
“We are very grateful to T-Mobile for investing in Carbondale through the Hometown Grant Program,� said Stan Reno, City Manager of Carbondale. “This funding will allow us to complete the Downtown-Campus Connector—a vital pedestrian and bike-friendly link between SIU and our downtown. By improving lighting and walkability, we’re not only enhancing safety, but also creating a more welcoming and accessible environment for students, residents, and visitors. This project is another step toward building a stronger, more connected Carbondale.�
The grant will fund the installation of decorative wayfinding signage along the Downtown-Campus Connector and decorative alleyway lighting in three key downtown locations. These improvements will enhance connectivity and safety between Southern Illinois University (SIU) and downtown Carbondale.
“Carbondale Main Street is proud to partner on this project, which will improve access and safety in our downtown,� said Matt Collinsworth, CMS� executive director. “I have a son who attends SIU, so I hear a lot about what we can do to make downtown a more attractive destination for students. This project is a great start. Whether someone is in Carbondale for four years or a lifetime, our downtown will welcome you.�
Collinsworth says he is excited to see the downtown's growth.Â
"Downtown Carbondale is becoming more welcoming and dynamic with each passing week," Collinsworth says. "We're thrilled to partner with the City, SIU, and local property owners to improve our wayfinding and alleyway lighting. This project will have positive lasting benefits for our community."
Dylan Chambers, President of the Saluki Pride Committee, highlighted the project's significance.
“It’s exciting to see this kind of investment coming into the heart of our city. Carbondale’s downtown and SIU have always shared a strong connection, and this grant helps turn a long-standing dream into reality—creating a more vibrant, welcoming space for students, residents, and visitors alike," Chamber said. "As someone involved with both the university and community efforts like the Saluki Pride Committee, which celebrates and promotes all things SIU, I’m especially encouraged by the momentum and inspired by the possibilities this opens up for the future. It’s a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we work together."
T-Mobile received nearly 1,000 applications for this grant cycle. City leaders said Carbondale is honored to be chosen alongside other communities striving for a brighter future.
For more information on the grant program, you can find it .
