The Rock River Development Partnership is looking for sponsors to pay to turn on lights on Madison Street, which is a busy area in downtown Rockford.
This comes after the public works department turned off 15 percent of the city’s streetlights in 2011 to close a budget gap.
The group says the average cost to sponsor the streetlights ranges between $6 and $8 a month plus electricity.
Cathy McDermott, with the Rock River Development Partnership, says adding more streetlights can provide multiple benefits to the community.
“Well-lit areas make people feel more secure," she says. "So, I think any area that it’s possible, in the commercial area, draws a lot of people. The more well-lit you can have it, the better it is.”
McDermott also says the sponsorships can serve as a gateway to bigger changes in the Rockford area.
"Well, I think short-term it’s going to help with the overall appearance, I guess perception maybe, of having more of a well-lit area," she says. "Long term, we’re actually hoping that there will be a more permanent plan to improve the infrastructure in the area."
McDermott calls the streetlight sponsorship a "low-cost way to make immediate changes."
