Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Community radio is returning to Springfield.

Ken Pacha represents a group reviving WQNA, which has been dark for six years. The Capital Area Career Center sold the station to Covenant Network Catholic Radio in late 2019.

“Over the last six years, I’ve achieved 501(c)3 status,” Pacha told aldermen Tuesday. We are a registered charitable organization. We just moved into the Myers Building. (we have a) ground floor studio where Prairie State Hemp was located. We plan on being a part – a large part – of the community. being present at events, parades, Y Block concerts. It’s not my radio station alone. It’s a lot of my effort, but there is an entire board behind that, and there’s going to be a lot of work to include everybody.”

Pacha said after the meeting the fundraising is $15,000 short of what’s necessary to get started, but he hopes WQNA will begin broadcasting on 95.7 FM in March.